Question 1

How many bones are present in an adult human skeleton?

Accepted Answer

An adult human skeleton conventionally contains 206 bones. These are divided into 80 axial bones and 126 appendicular bones, including the limb girdles.

Question 2

What is included in the axial skeleton?

Accepted Answer

The axial skeleton includes the skull, auditory ossicles, hyoid bone, vertebral column, ribs and sternum. Their total is 80 bones: 22 + 6 + 1 + 26 + 24 + 1.

Question 3

How are fibrous and cartilaginous joints different?

Accepted Answer

Fibrous joints connect bones through dense connective tissue and are fixed or nearly fixed, as in cranial sutures. Cartilaginous joints use cartilage between the bone surfaces and permit limited movement, as in symphyses and intervertebral joints.

Question 4

Which structures define a synovial joint?

Accepted Answer

A synovial joint has articular cartilage over the bone ends and a synovial cavity containing synovial fluid. The capsule and its synovial membrane line the joint, while ligaments help stabilise it.

Question 5

How can common synovial joint subtypes be recognised?

Accepted Answer

The knee and elbow work mainly as hinges, while the shoulder and hip are ball-and-socket joints. The atlas-axis joint is a pivot, joints between carpals or tarsals glide, and the thumb base is a saddle joint.

Human Skeleton & Joint Atlas — Axial, Appendicular and How Bones Meet

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