Copyright 2010
Introduction
There are 206 named bones in the body
There are many classifications but the following represent the more commonly used
The common classifications are in general based on;
Position of the Bones:
Axial skeleton
Appendicular skeleton
Shape of the Bones:
Long bones
Short bones
Flat bones
Irregular Bones
Axial Skeleton
The axial skeleton form along the long axis of the body and includes
skull
spine
ribs
and are functionally characterised by their ability to support protection and anchorage for other parts of the body.
Appendicular skeleton
The appendicular skeleton consists of bones of the upper and lower limbs and their associated girdles that enable their attachment to the axial skeleton. Thus the upper limb is attached to the axial skeleton via the shoulder and the lower limb is attached to the axial skeleton via the hips. The appendicular skeleton is functionally characterised by their abilty to facilitate movement.
The Long Bones
The long bones are so named because they are longer than they are wide, and are found in the appendicular skeleton. All the bones of the upper and lower limbs are long bones aside from the bones of the wrist and ankle. Structurally they consist of a shaft and two expanded ends.
Short Bones
The short bones are characterized by their roughly cubed shape and include bones of the wrist and ankle.
Flat Bones
The flat bones are characteristically flat as their name implies are flat in shape and are also slightly curved. Examples include most the bones of the skull, the scapula, and the ribs.
Irregular Bones
The irregular bones are charcacterized by an irregular shape and include the vertebra, hip bones, some of the skull bones eg sphenoid and ethmoid.