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How many bones are in the adult human skeleton?
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human body
Vintage anatomy charts of the human body showing the skeletal and muscle systems.
The adult human skeleton typically consists of 206 individual bones.
This framework is divided into two primary subdivisions:
- The Axial Skeleton: Comprising 80 bones, this section includes the skull, the vertebral column, and the rib cage. It serves primarily to support and protect the central nervous system and the organs of the chest.12
- The Appendicular Skeleton: This subdivision consists of the remaining bones, which include the pelvic and pectoral girdles as well as the bones of the upper and lower limbs.12
Together, these structures provide the body with support, protection for vital organs, and the mechanical leverage necessary for motion.1