Question

What are the twenty major bones in the body?

Answer 1

The axial skeleton maintains the upright posture of the human body by transmitting the weight from the upper extremities to the lower extremities.
The appendicular skeleton protects the major internal organs and facilitates locomotion.

Complete answer:
The human skeleton is the structural framework of the human body. The human skeleton consists of approximately 270 bones at the time of birth. The fusion of some bones decreases the bone count to 206 by adulthood. The human skeleton becomes the densest by the age of 21.
The human skeleton is divided into two parts, the axial skeleton and the appendicular skeleton.
The axial skeleton consists of 80 bones in the human skeleton. It is composed of 6 parts:
- The skull bones
- The bones of the ear ossicles
- The hyoid bone
- The sternum
- The rib cage
- The vertebral column
The appendicular skeleton consists of the bones that support the appendages. The appendicular skeleton is divided into six main regions:
- The shoulder girdles include the left and right clavicle and scapula.
- The arm bones include the left and right humerus, ulna and radius.
- The hand bones include the left and right carpals, metacarpals and proximal, intermediate and distal phalanges.
- The pelvis includes the left and right hip bones.
- The leg bones include the left and right femur, patella, tibia and fibula
- The feet bones include the left and right tarsals, metatarsals and proximal, intermediate and distal phalanges.

Note:
There are subtle differences amongst the male and female skeletal structures. The female human skeleton has a wider pelvis when compared to males.
The human skeleton performs the following functions:
- Support
- Protection
- Movement
- Formation of blood cells
- Mineral storage
- Regulation of the endocrine system