Types of Bones | Learn Skeleton Anatomy (2024)

Types of Bones | Learn Skeleton Anatomy (1)

The human skeleton has a number of functions, such as protection and supporting weight. Different types of bones have differing shapes related to their particular function.

So, what are the different types of bones? How are they categorized?

There are five types of bones in the skeleton: flat, long, short, irregular, and sesamoid.

Let’s go through each type and see examples.

1. Flat Bones Protect Internal Organs

Types of Bones | Learn Skeleton Anatomy (2)

There are flat bones in the skull (occipital, parietal, frontal, nasal, lacrimal, and vomer), the thoracic cage (sternum and ribs), and the pelvis (ilium, ischium, and pubis). The function of flat bones is to protect internal organs such as the brain, heart, and pelvic organs. Flat bones are somewhat flattened, and can provide protection, like a shield; flat bones can also provide large areas of attachment for muscles.

2. Long Bones Support Weight and Facilitate Movement

Types of Bones | Learn Skeleton Anatomy (3)

The long bones, longer than they are wide, include the femur (the longest bone in the body) as well as relatively small bones in the fingers. Long bones function to support the weight of the body and facilitate movement. Long bones are mostly located in the appendicular skeleton and include bones in the lower limbs (the tibia, fibula, femur, metatarsals, and phalanges) and bones in the upper limbs (the humerus, radius, ulna, metacarpals, and phalanges).

3. Short Bones Are Cube-shaped

Types of Bones | Learn Skeleton Anatomy (4)

Short bones are about as long as they are wide. Located in the wrist and ankle joints, short bones provide stability and some movement. The carpals in the wrist (scaphoid, lunate, triquetral, hamate, pisiform, capitate, trapezoid, and trapezium) and the tarsals in the ankles (calcaneus, talus, navicular, cuboid, lateral cuneiform, intermediate cuneiform, and medial cuneiform) are examples of short bones.

4. Irregular Bones Have Complex Shapes

Types of Bones | Learn Skeleton Anatomy (5)

Irregular bones vary in shape and structure and therefore do not fit into any other category (flat, short, long, or sesamoid). They often have a fairly complex shape, which helps protect internal organs. For example, the vertebrae, irregular bones of the vertebral column, protect the spinal cord. The irregular bones of the pelvis (pubis, ilium, and ischium) protect organs in the pelvic cavity.

5. Sesamoid Bones Reinforce Tendons

Types of Bones | Learn Skeleton Anatomy (6)

Sesamoid bones are bones embedded in tendons. These small, round bones are commonly found in the tendons of the hands, knees, and feet. Sesamoid bones function to protect tendons from stress and wear. The patella, commonly referred to as the kneecap, is an example of a sesamoid bone.

Types of Bones | Learn Skeleton Anatomy (2024)

FAQs

Types of Bones | Learn Skeleton Anatomy? ›

The bones of the human skeleton are classified by their shape: long bones, short bones, flat bones, sutural bones, sesamoid bones, and irregular bones (Figure 1). Figure 1. Shown are different types of bones: flat, irregular, long, short, and sesamoid.

What are the 7 types of bones? ›

The bones of the human skeleton are classified by their shape: long bones, short bones, flat bones, sutural bones, sesamoid bones, and irregular bones (Figure 1). Figure 1. Shown are different types of bones: flat, irregular, long, short, and sesamoid.

What are the 4 major types of bones? ›

The four principal types of bones are long, short, flat and irregular. Bones that are longer than they are wide are called long bones. They consist of a long shaft with two bulky ends or extremities.

What are the 6 categories of bones? ›

There are six types of bones in the human body: long, short, flat, irregular, sesamoid and sutural.

What are the 5 types of bones? ›

How are they categorized? There are five types of bones in the skeleton: flat, long, short, irregular, and sesamoid.

What are the 33 bones? ›

Vertebrae: Your spine has 33 stacked vertebrae (small bones) that form the spinal canal.

What are the 29 bones of the skull? ›

Head bones: The 29 head bones consist of 8 cranial bones, 14 facial bones, the hyoid bone, and 6 auditory (ear) bones. The 8 cranial bones are the frontal, 2 parietal, occipital, 2 temporal, sphenoid, and ethmoid bones.

What is the biggest bone in your body? ›

Your femur is the largest bone in your body. Most adult femurs are around 18 inches long. The femur is also the strongest bone in your body.

What is the smallest bone in the body? ›

Located in the middle ear, the stapes is the smallest bone in the human body. Damage to this bone may cause partial or complete hearing loss. Before becoming recognized by the brain, sound waves must enter the auditory canal, go through the tympanic membrane (eardrum), and then enter the middle ear compartment.

What are four types of joints? ›

A joint is the part of the body where two or more bones meet to allow movement. Generally speaking, the greater the range of movement, the higher the risk of injury because the strength of the joint is reduced. The six types of freely movable joint include ball and socket, saddle, hinge, condyloid, pivot and gliding.

How do you classify bones with example? ›

Bones can be classified according to their shapes. Long bones, such as the femur, are longer than they are wide. Short bones, such as the carpals, are approximately equal in length, width, and thickness. Flat bones are thin, but are often curved, such as the ribs.

Which bone protects the brain? ›

The cranium, or skull, is composed of 22 bones anis d divided into two regions: the neurocranium (which protects the brain) and the viscerocranium (which forms the face). The skull also supports tendinous muscle attachments and allows neurovascular passage between intracranial and extracranial anatomy.

What type of bone are the vertebrae? ›

Each vertebra ( pl. : vertebrae) is an irregular bone with a complex structure composed of bone and some hyaline cartilage, that make up the vertebral column or spine, of vertebrates. The proportions of the vertebrae differ according to their spinal segment and the particular species.

Which bone is known as Beauty bone? ›

The clavicle is otherwise called the collarbone. It is an S-shaped bone. The clavicles are located on each side of the chest. The clavicle is known as the "beauty bone" because of its location in the body.

Which category of bone is among the most numerous in the skeleton? ›

Long bones are the most numerous in the skeletal system.

What has 7 bones? ›

Seven bones in the neck—the cervical spine.

What are the 7 12 5 bones? ›

The vertebral column (spine) defines the animal subphylum Vertebra, or vertebrates, of the phylum Chordata. In humans, it is composed of 33 vertebrae that include 7 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 sacral, and 4 coccygeal. Along with the skull, ribs, and sternum, these vertebrae make up the axial skeletal system.

How many bone types are there? ›

There are four different types of bone in the human body: Long bone – has a long, thin shape. Examples include the bones of the arms and legs (excluding the wrists, ankles and kneecaps). With the help of muscles, long bones work as levers to permit movement.

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