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Human Skeleton

The human skeleton is made up of bones. An adult skeleton consists of 206 bones. Our skeleton acts as an internal framework and its bones help muscles to act as levers to move the legs, arms and other body parts. We could no longer move our body without bones. In fact, you will look like a huge blob of jelly, without the skeleton.

human skeleton

blob-of-jelly
Have you ever thought that you would look like a huge blob of jelly without your skeleton?








Human Skeleton for Kids

What does our skeleton do?

Our skeleton helps us in many ways as follows;

  1. Our skeleton provides shape and support to the body.
  2. It protects the internal organs such as the brain, the heart, and the lungs and keep them in their proper place.
  3. It helps us to move as our muscles are attached to our bones.
  4. Bones in the skeleton help producing blood cells.

The Human Skeleton

human skeleton
The Human Skeleton

The Skull

The skull includes the jaw boneand the facial bones. It also has a cavity, called the cranium to protect the brain.

the-skull
The Skull

The Breastbone

The breastbone is a long flat bone. It is located in the centre of the chest. It connects to the ribs with cartilage.

breastbone
The Breastbone

The Rib Cage

The rib cage is formed by the backbone, breastbone, ribs and cartilages. It protects the heart and lungs.

rib-cage
The Rib Cage

The Backbone

The backbone is also known as the spine or vertebral column. It is made up of 33 irregular bones, called vertebrae.

the-spine
The Spine

The Collarbone

The collarbone is a long bone that acts as a rod between the shoulder blade and the breastbone to link them. Collarbone is the only long bone in our body that lies horizontally.

collarbone
The right and the left collarbones

The Shoulder Blade

The shoulder blade connects the upper arm bone with the collarbone.

shoulder-blades
The right and the left shoulder blades

The Upper Arm bone

The upper arm bone is a long bone in the upper arm. It runs from the shoulder to the elbow.

humerus
The right upper arm bone

The Forearm Bones

The forearm bones run parallel to each other. One is the Radius and the other is the Ulna. They connect the elbow with the wrist.

radius-ulna-bones
The left forearm bones

Wrist and Finger Bones

Bones in the human hand are divided into three groups. They are;

  1. Wrist bones
  2. Metacarpals
  3. Finger bones

left-hand-bones
Bone structure of the left hand

The Hip Bone

This is a symmetrical bone that looks like a basin. It protects the digestive and reproductive organs and the rectum. The thigh bone connects to the hip bone.

hip-bone
The hip bone

The Thigh Bone

The thigh bone is also known as the femur. Thigh bone is the longest and the best bone in the human skeletal system. It extends from the hip to the knee.

femur
The right thigh bone

The Kneecap

The kneecap is a circular-triangular bone. It connects to the thigh bone.

kneecap
The kneecap

The Shinbone and the Calf Bone

These are the two long bones in the leg below the knee. The shinbone, also known as the tibia, is the ber and the larger of the two bones. It connects the knee with the ankle bones. The calf bone, also known as the fibula, is the smaller of the two bones and the thinnest of all the long bones.

right-fibula-tibia
Right shinbone and calf bone

Ankle and Foot Bones

Bones in the human foot are divided into three groups. They are;

  1. Ankle bones
  2. Metatarsals
  3. Foot bones

the-right-foot-bones
Bone structure of the right foot