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Learn the Bones of the Human Body for kids

Updated on September 23, 2013

Babies are born with 300 bones. The adult human body has 206 bones. Some are very large and some are very small. These bones make up our skeleton. The skeleton gives the human body it's structure. It also helps us move because many of our muscles are attached to it. The bones also protect delicate internal organs like the brain, heart and lungs.

It might surprise you but our bones are actually alive. They make new bones cells and they grow. If you break a bone, it can heal. Bones have different parts including the periosteum, compact bone, cancellous and bone marrow. Bones stop growing at about the age of 25. After that, they won't get any bigger.

It's hard to learn the names of all 206 human bones. But it's easy to learn the names of the biggest and most important. This is a list of 23 major bones.

Bones of the head
Bones of the head

Head Bones

A total of 22 bones make up the skull or head. The two main bones are:

The cranium is like a hard shell that protects the brain. It is made up of 8 flat bones. The bones are joined together by sutures.

The second major bone is the mandible or lower jaw bone.

Bones of the upper body
Bones of the upper body

Bones of the Upper Body

The clavicle or collar bone helps to connect your arms to your body.

The scapula or shoulder blade is a wide flat, bone.

The ribs or ribcage protect delicate organs like the heart, lungs and liver from damage. Twelve pairs of ribs are attached to the spine.

The sternum is also called the breastbone. It's a strong bone in the center of the chest that holds the ribs in place.

The spine is easy to feel. It's bumpy and runs down the middle of your back. Nerves run through your spine. They are like wires that connect the brain to the rest of the body. The bones attached to the spine are called vertebrae.

Hand and arm bones
Hand and arm bones

Arm and Hand Bones

The bone above the elbow is the Humerus.

The two bones beneath the elbow are the Ulna and the Radius. The radius bone is on the same side as your thumb.

The Carpals are 8 small bones that make up the wrist.

The Metacarpals are five bones that go from the wrist to the beginning of the fingers. The are the main bones that make up the hand.

Both finger and toe bones are called Phalanges.

Pelvic bones
Pelvic bones

Pelvic Bones

There are four major bones that make up the pelvis. The pelvis attaches the legs to the upper body.

The largest pelvic bone is the ilium. It forms the upper part of the pelvis.

The ischium forms the lower half of the pelvis.

The sacrum bone is shaped like a triangle.

Another name for the coccyx is tailbone.

Leg and foot bones
Leg and foot bones

Leg and Foot Bones

The femur is the leg bone above the knee. It's also the longest bone in the human body.

The two leg bones below the knee are the tibia and fibula. The tibia is one the same side as the big toe.

The patella is the knee or kneecap. The patella protects the joints that connect the upper leg bones to the lower leg bones.

The heal bone is the calcaneus.

The metatarsals are long bones that connect the toes to the rest of the foot.

The toe bones, like the finger bones, are called phalanges.

Human Bones Song

© 2013 JoanCA


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    • JoanCA profile image

      JoanCA 4 years ago

      Thanks DDE.

    • DDE profile image

      Devika Primić 4 years ago from Dubrovnik, Croatia

      Interesting hub about Learn the Bones of the Human Body for kids informative and definitely helpful to many parents