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Which bones belong to the axial skeleton?
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bone
A long bone of the human body, showing a magnified cross section of the interior.
The axial skeleton consists of the 80 bones that form the central axis of the human body, primarily serving to support and protect the central nervous system, heart, and lungs.1
The bones included in the axial skeleton are:
- Skull: Comprised of 8 cranial bones and 14 facial bones.1
- Auditory Ossicles: The 6 bones of the middle ear.1
- Hyoid Bone: A single bone located in the neck.1
- Vertebral Column: Consists of 24 individual vertebrae, plus the sacrum and the coccyx.1
- Rib Cage: Comprised of 24 ribs and the sternum (breastbone).1
This structure is distinct from the appendicular skeleton, which encompasses the bones of the upper and lower limbs.1