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How many bones are typically in an adult human body?
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human skeleton
Front and back views of the human skeleton.
The adult human skeleton typically consists of 206 individual bones. This framework is divided into two primary subdivisions:
- Axial skeleton: Comprising 80 bones, this section includes the skull, vertebral column, and rib cage. It serves primarily to support and protect the central nervous system and the organs of the chest.12
- Appendicular skeleton: This subdivision consists of the remaining bones, which include the pectoral and pelvic girdles, as well as the bones of the upper and lower limbs.12
Together, these structures provide the essential functions of support, protection, and motion for the human body.1