Human Skeleton

6.3 Human skeleton

Humans have a living endoskeleton (internal skeleton) made of bone, cartilage and connective tissue. At birth, the human skeleton consists of over \(\text{270}\) bones. However, in adults this number has reduced to \(\text{206}\) bones due the fusion of smaller bones into larger structures. The adult skeleton (see figure below) is made up of the axial skeleton and the appendicular skeleton (see figure below).

Diagram showing an overview of the main skeletal features of the human skeleton.