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174 Chapter Seven Axial Skeleton

T he bones of the skeleton form an internal framework to support

soft tissues, protect vital organs, bear the bodys weight, and help
us move. Without a bony skeleton, we would collapse into a formless
mass. Typically, there are 206 bones in an adult skeleton, although this
number varies in some individuals. A larger number of bones appear
to be present at birth, but the total number decreases with growth
and maturity as some separate bones fuse. Bones differ in size, shape,
weight, and even composition, and this diversity is directly related to
the skeletons many functions.
The skeletal system is divided into two parts: the axial skeleton
and the appendicular skeleton. The axial skeleton is composed of the
bones along the central axis of the body, which we commonly divide
into three regionsthe skull, the vertebral column, and the thoracic
cage (figure 7.1). The appendicular skeleton consists of the bones of
the appendages (upper and lower limbs), as well as the bones that hold
the limbs to the trunk of the body (the pectoral and pelvic girdles). The
axial skeleton is the topic of this chapter; in chapter 8, we discuss the
appendicular skeleton.

Frontal bone Parietal bone

Temporal bone
Skull Zygomatic bone
Occipital bone
Maxilla
Mandible
Mandible

Hyoid bone

Sternum

Thoracic Ribs Vertebrae

cage
Costal Vertebral
cartilage column
Vertebrae

Sacrum Sacrum

Coccyx
Coccyx

Bones of the Axial Skeleton (80)

Skull (22) Cranial bones (8) Vertebral Cervical vertebrae (7)
Frontal bone (1), parietal bones (2), temporal bones (2), column (26) Thoracic vertebrae (12)
occipital bone (1), sphenoid bone (1), ethmoid bone (1) Lumbar vertebrae (5)

Facial bones (14) Sacrum (1)

Zygomatic bones (2), lacrimal bones (2),
Coccyx (1)
nasal bones (2), vomer (1), inferior nasal conchae (2),
palatine bones (2), maxillae (2), mandible (1)
Thoracic Sternum (1)
Associated Auditory ossicles (6) cage (25)
bones of Ribs (24)
Malleus (2), incus (2), stapes (2)
the skull (7)
Hyoid bone (1)

(a) Anterior view (b) Posterior view

Figure 7.1
Axial Skeleton. (a) Anterior and (b) posterior views show the axial skeleton, which is composed of the skull, vertebral column, and thoracic cage. A table
summarizes the bones of the axial regions.

mck25731_ch07_173-219.indd 174 12/9/13 9:49 AM