Bones of the human body: functions, types and how many we have

He skeletal system provides structure and support to our body, allows us to move and supports and protects our internal organs. Furthermore, in the bones Minerals such as calcium are stored and blood cells develop.

In addition to bones, our skeletal system is made up of the connective tissue (including cartilage, ligaments and tendons), which helps support and secure the body while we move or stand still.

How many bones does the human body have?

The adult skeleton is made up of a total of 206 bones.

The main functions of bone are:

Support: It is the main structure of our body.
Protection: The skeleton protects the most important organs from injury.
Homeostasis: mechanism that allows the body to regulate the storage and release of substances such as calcium.
Displacement: Most muscles are attached to the bones, when they contract they pull on them and produce movement.

How many types of bones are there and how are they classified?

There are mainly five types of bones:

Long bones. They are, for example, the humerus (arm), the femur (thigh), the tibia and the fibula (leg).
Short bones. Most are located on the wrist or ankle.
Flat bones. They have a protective function and a large anchoring surface for the muscles. An example of them would be the skull or the scapula.
irregular bones (with different shapes). An example of them are the vertebrae, since their shape varies depending on the area of the spine where they are located.
Sesamoid bones (shaped like a sesame seed). These form in areas where there is considerable friction and tension of the different structures. An example would be the palms of the hands or the soles of the feet.

On the other hand, the bones of the skeleton are divided into two groups:

He axial skeleton they form it 80 bones. They are located in the head, neck, spine and thorax.
He appendicular skeleton is made up of 126 bones. These are located in the shoulders, arms, pelvis and legs.

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Bones of the head: number and functions

Our head is made up of 22 bones. They are grouped into two categories: cranial bones and facial bones.

The cranial bones They form the cavity of the skull and their function is to protect and surround the brain. They are the frontal bone (forms the forehead), two parietal bonestwo temporal bones (located on the side and bottom of the skull), the occipital bone (back of the head), the sphenoid bone and the ethmoid bone.
The bones of the face are made up of two nasal bonestwo maxillary bonestwo zygomatic bonesthe jawtwo tear bonestwo palatine bonestwo turbinates and veithermer.

Bones of the spine: number and functions

The backbone It represents approximately 40% of body weight. Its main functions are:

Protect and surround the spinal cord.
Hold your head.
Serve as an insertion point for ribs, pelvis and back muscles.

The adult skeleton has 26 vertebrae distributed in different areas:

7 cervical vertebrae (C1 to C7)
12 thoracic vertebrae (T1 to T12)
5 lumbar vertebrae (L1 to L5)
The sacrum, formed by the fusion of five sacral vertebrae
The coccyx, usually made up of four fused coccygeal vertebrae.

Chest bones: number and functions

In it chestthey meet 12 ribs on each side. Its function is protect the lungs and organs located in the thorax.

The first seven ribs They are the so-called sternal or true ones; from the 8th to the 10th, the false or asternal ones, and the 11th and 12th, the floating ones.
In the center of the anterior part of the thorax is the sternum bone. This bone articulates with both clavicles and the upper ribs.

Bones of the shoulder girdle and upper extremity

The human body has two shoulder girdles, known as shoulders. The shoulder girdle is formed by a clavicle and a scapula.

Each upper limb is composed of 30 bones: humerus (arm), radius and ulna (forearm), 8 carpal bones (wrist), 5 metacarpals (palm of the hand) and 14 phalanges (finger bones)

Bones of the pelvic girdle and lower extremities

The pelvic girdleknown as hipis made up of:

2 coxal or hip bones. They are joined on their anterior part by the pubic symphysis. On their posterior part they join with the sacrum through the sacroiliac joint. Each coxal bone is made up of 3 areas: the ilium, ischium and the pubis.

Each lower extremity is made up of 30 bones: the femur, the patella, the tibia and the fibula, 7 bones of the tarsus (ankle), 5 metatarsals (foot) and 14 phalanges (fingers).