
Axial Skeleton Components
- 1. Skull: The skull is a bony framework of the head that protects the brain. It acts as a cover to the brain and supports the structure of the face. ...
- 2. Vertebral Column: It forms the main framework of the trunk, and it is known as the backbone or spine. ...
- 3. Thoracic Cage: It is also called rib cage. ...
What are the major bones of the axial skeleton?
Which bones belong to the axial skeleton?
- Skull. Your skull has two sets of bones: Eight cranial bones and 14 facial bones. ...
- Ears. The auditory ossicles (small bones) of your middle ear are the smallest bones in your body. These tiny bones transfer vibrations from your eardrum to your inner ear.
- Ribcage. The thoracic cage, or ribcage, protects your heart, lungs and other organs. ...
What bones make up the axial skeleton?
- Skull: A human skull consists of 28 different bones, and is divided into two main parts called the cranium and facial bones.
- Sternum/Breastbone: This is one flat bone that anchors the ribs, and together the sternum and ribs comprise the rib cage.
- Ribs: It contains 24 bones forming 12 pairs of ribs, which are further divided into true and false ribs.
What are the components of the axial skeleton?
- Axial skeleton. Divided into 3 parts: skull, vertebral column, and thoracic cage.
- Skull. Composed of the cranium and facial bones.
- Frontal bone.
- Supraorbital foramen (notch)
- Glabella.
- Parietal bone.
- Sagittal suture.
- Coronal suture.
How many bones in the axial skeleton?
Your axial skeleton is made up of the 80 bones within the central core of your body. This includes bones in your head, neck, back and chest. Your axial skeleton protects and cushions your brain, spinal cord and organs. Many different health conditions can affect your axial skeleton, so it’s important to keep it healthy and strong.

Q.1. What bones are in the axial and appendicular skeleton?
Ans:The axial skeleton forms the vertical axis of the body and includes the bones of the head, neck, back, and chest of the body. It consists of (8...
Q.2. What are the axial skeleton parts?
Ans: Axial skeleton can be divided into three parts: the skull, vertebral column, & the rib cage or thoracic cage.
Q.3. Where is the axial skeleton located?
Ans: The axial skeleton lies along the central longitudinal axis of the human body.
Q.4. Are ribs axial or appendicular?
Ans: Axial skeleton includes the bones of the skull, vertebrae, thoracic cage, hyoid bone and ear ossicles. Ribs and sternum are part of the thorac...
Q.5. What are the functions of the axial skeleton?
Ans: The functions of the axial skeleton are: Skull provides protection to the brain, forms the orbit of the eyes and provide structure to the face...
What are the three 3 main parts of the human axial skeleton?
The main parts of the human axial skeleton include the skull, vertebral column, and thoracic cage. However, the hyoid bone in the laryngeal skeleto...
How many of the 206 bones are axial skeleton bones?
Out of the 206 bones in the entire skeleton system, 80 bones are found in the axial skeleton. The remaining 126 are found in the appendicular skele...
Where is the axial skeleton?
The axial skeleton extends from the skull directly down to the bottom of the vertebral column. It does not include the clavicle or shoulder joint.
What are the components of the axial skeleton?
Axial Skeleton Components. The main components of axial skeleton are: The Skull. The Vertebral Column. Thoracic Cage. Fig: Axial Skeleton Components. 1. Skull: The skull is a bony framework of the head that protects the brain. It acts as a cover to the brain and supports the structure of the face.
What are the bones of the limbs attached to the axial skeleton?
The skull, the vertebral column, sternum, and ribs constitute the axial skeleton.” (Source: NCERT). Definition: The bones of the limbs are attached to the axial skeleton via girdles. The axial skeleton forms the main frame of the body in the longitudinal axis.
How many vertebrae are there in the thorax?
Thoracic: Thoracic vertebrae are 12 in number. It forms the vertebral spine and it supports the rib cage. It is present on the dorsal side of the thorax region and forms the dorsal part of the thoracic cage. Lumbar: Lumbar vertebrae are 5 in number. They form the dorsal part of the abdomen, i.e. lower back.
Which skeleton is responsible for the central axis of the body?
The axial skeleton constructs the central axis of the body, while the appendicular skeleton comprises the limbs and girdles.
How many cervical vertebrae are there?
Cervical: Cervical vertebrae are 7 in number. They are present in the neck region. The Atlas is the first cervical vertebrae and the Axis is the second cervical vertebrae. It is located right below the skull, and is attached to the skull with the help of condyles. Thoracic: Thoracic vertebrae are 12 in number.
How many bones are there in the skull?
The two parts of the skull are the cranium and facial bones. The skull of humans is said to be dicondylic. The skull consists of 29 bones, i.e. 8 in the cranium, 14 in the face, 6 ear ossicles and 1 hyoid bone.
What is the human skeletal system?
The Human Skeletal System consists of a framework of bones and a few cartilages to form the endoskeleton in humans. This system has a significant role in providing shape to the body and facilitates movement in combination with muscles.
How many bones are in the axial skeleton?
It supports and protects the brain, the spinal cord and many of the internal organs. It includes around 80 bones. That's about 40% of all the bones in your body. These are:
What is the purpose of the axial skeleton?
Their primary purpose is to protect your brain and its nerves and blood vessels.
How many thoracic vertebrae are there?
Underneath those, you have 12 thoracic vertebrae to which your ribs are attached. The thoracic vertebrae support the skull, neck and upper limbs and chest. These are followed by the five lumbar vertebrae that make up your lower back. They support everything above them, including the head, neck, upper limbs and the trunk or abdominal area. And, if you were paying close attention, you may have noticed that, as the number of structures supported increased, so does the size of the vertebrae, with the cervical vertebrae being the smallest and the lumbar the largest.
How many pairs of ribs are there in the human body?
The 12 pairs of ribs make up the thoracic (or rib) cage, which surrounds and protects the lungs. So, not only does your axial skeleton provide the framework for the shape of your body, but it also provides protection and support for your nervous system, internal organs and muscular system. Learning Outcome.
What is the purpose of the cranial bones?
Their primary purpose is to protect your brain and its nerves and blood vessels. Below your cranial bone (that's just a fancy word for head) are the bones belonging to your face, ears and neck. You can think of the cranial bones as the outer structure of a house.
What are the bones in the skull called?
The bones associated with the skull: These are some of the smaller bones, like those in your ear, called the auditory ossicles and the hyoid bone in your neck. The vertebral column: Which consists of 24 vertebrae, the sacrum and the coccyx. And, last but not least, the thoracic (or rib) cage:
Which bones have the greatest range of motion?
Axial Skeleton: Vertebrae. Of all the bones in the axial skeleton, the neck bones underneath the skull probably have the greatest range of motion. The neck bones are actually part of the vertebral (or spinal) column. They're the top seven out of the 24 vertebrae that make up your backbone.
What are the bones of the axial skeleton?
We will make a list of bones of the axial skeletal system by segregating the axial skeleton in the following parts: 1 Skull: A human skull consists of 28 different bones, and is divided into two main parts called the cranium and facial bones. 2 Sternum/Breastbone: This is one flat bone that anchors the ribs, and together the sternum and ribs comprise the rib cage. 3 Ribs: It contains 24 bones forming 12 pairs of ribs, which are further divided into true and false ribs. 4 Vertebral Column: The vertebral column or spine, is made up of 33 irregularly shaped bones, which are divided into five categories: the cervical vertebrae, the thoracic vertebrae, the lumbar vertebrae, the sacrum, and finally the coccyx or tail-bone.
What is the other part of the skeletal system called?
The other part of the human skeletal system is called the appendicular skeleton, and together with the axial skeleton, it completes the human skeletal system.
What is the spongy bone?
Spongy Bone: This form of bone is known to be spongy because it becomes more hollow towards the center of the bone. Here, the red bone marrow and the yellow bone marrow are located in the head of the femur and humerus.
How many bones are there in the human skull?
Skull: A human skull consists of 28 different bones, and is divided into two main parts called the cranium and facial bones. Sternum/Breastbone: This is one flat bone that anchors the ribs, and together the sternum and ribs comprise the rib cage.
How many bones are in the vertebral column?
Vertebral Column: The vertebral column or spine, is made up of 33 irregularly shaped bones, which are divided into five categories: the cervical vertebrae, the thoracic vertebrae, the lumbar vertebrae, the sacrum, and finally the coccyx or tail-bone.
What are the layers of a bone?
A bone is composed of three layers: Periosteum: The periosteum is a double-layered tissue that covers the hard bones, which are called the compact bones. Compact Bone: These are hollow-structured bones filled with blood vessels. They are rich with nerves.
What are the two largest bones in the skull?
This bone forms the forehead, the top of the nasal cavity, and top of the bony structure of eyes. These are the two largest bones in the skull. It forms the side and the top of the head. These bones form the sides and the base of the skull. It is lateral to the temporal lobes of the cerebrum.
What are the parts of the skull?
Divided into 3 parts: skull, vertebral column, and thoracic cage. Skull. Composed of the cranium and facial bones. Frontal bone. Anterior portion of cranium; forms the forehead, superior part of the orbit, and floor of anterior cranial fossa.
Which bone forms the floor and back wall?
Most posterior bone of cranium- forms floor and back wall
What is the mandible fossa?
Mandibular fossa. Rounded depression on the inferior surface of the zygomatic process; forms the socket for the condylar process of the mandible, where the mandible joins the cranium. External acoustic meatus. Canal leading to eardrum and middle ear.
What is irregular shaped bone anterior to the sphenoid?
Irregular shaped bone anterior to the sphenoid. forms the roof of the nasal cavity, upper nasal septum, and part of the medial orbit walls
Where is the ethmoid bone extending?
Thin, delicately coiled plates of bone extending medially from the lateral masses of the ethmoid into the nasal cavity.
What is the name of the saddle in the pituitary gland?
Jagged openings in orbits providing passage for cranial nerves II, IV, V, and VI to enter the orbit where they serve the eye. Sella turcica (Turk's saddle) A saddle-shaped region in the sphenoid midline. The seat of this saddle, called the hyphophyseal fossa, surrounds the pituitary glands.
