An adult human typically has 206 bones in their body. This number can vary slightly between individuals due to anatomical differences such as extra ribs or vertebrae, and the presence of small accessory bones called sesamoid bones
. At birth, humans have around 270 bones, but as they grow, some bones fuse together, reducing the total count to 206 by adulthood
. The skeleton is divided into two main parts: the axial skeleton, which includes 80 bones such as the skull, spine, and ribs, and the appendicular skeleton, which consists of 126 bones in the limbs and pelvis
. Some adults may have slightly more than 206 bones (up to about 213) due to variations in the number of ribs, vertebrae, or digits
. The count can also be influenced by age, as bone fusion continues into early adulthood and bone loss can occur in older age
. In summary:
- Newborns: ~270 bones
- Adults: typically 206 bones (range 206–213)
- Axial skeleton: 80 bones
- Appendicular skeleton: 126 bones
This count excludes teeth and some small sesamoid bones which may or may not be counted depending on the source
