SKELETON REVIEW
Skeletal System: At birth, the human body consists of about 350 bones. But, during the growth and
maturation process, some of the bones are fused together. The adult human skeleton consists of 206
bones that vary in size and shape. A distribution of bones in different body parts is as follows:
28 skull bones (14 facial, 8 cranial and 6 ear bones)
Hyoid bone of the neck (horseshoe-shaped)
26 vertebrae (7 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, sacrum made from 5
fused vertebrae and coccyx made from 3 fused vertebrae)
24 ribs, sternum or breastbone, shoulder girdle (2 clavicles and 2
scapulae)
2 in arms (humerus), 4 in forearms (2 radius, 2 ulna)
54 in the hands (carpus, metacarpus and digits)
2 Hip bones
2 in thighs (femur)
6 in the legs (2 patella, 2 tibia and 2 fibula)
52 in the feet (tarsus, metatarsus and digits)