An adult human typically has 206 bones in their body. This total includes bones of the skull, spine (vertebrae), ribs, arms, and legs
. At birth, humans have about 270 bones, but many of these fuse together during growth, resulting in the 206 bones commonly counted in adults
. The adult skeleton is divided into two main parts:
- Axial skeleton: 80 bones, including the skull, spine, and chest
- Appendicular skeleton: 126 bones, including limbs and girdles
The exact number can vary slightly due to anatomical variations such as extra (supernumerary) bones or fused bones in some individuals
. Some sesamoid bones (small bones embedded in tendons) may or may not be counted depending on the method of counting
. In summary, the standard count is 206 bones in an adult human, though individual variation can cause this number to be a bit higher or lower
