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How many bones are in the human axial skeleton?

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Front and back views of the human skeleton are shown side by side, with labeled bones including the skull, spine, ribs, pelvis, arms, legs, hands, and feet. Insets detail the bones of the foot and hand, highlighting major bone groups and anatomical terms. — human skeleton Front and back views of the human skeleton.

The human axial skeleton consists of 80 individual bones. This structure serves primarily to support and protect the central nervous system, heart, and lungs.1

The 80 bones of the axial skeleton include:
* 8 cranial bones of the skull
* 14 bones of the face
* 6 auditory ossicles (bones of the middle ear)
* 1 hyoid bone
* 24 bones in the vertebral column
* The sacrum and the coccyx
* 24 bones of the rib cage
* The sternum1