Bone Classification

Bone Classification

• Long bones have a cylinder-like shape, are longer than they are wide, and are the strongest bones in the body.
• Examples of long bones include the humerus (upper arm), femur (thigh), clavicle (collarbone), radius (forearm), ulna (forearm), phalanges (fingers and toes), tibia (lower leg), and fibula (lower leg).

Short Bones

• Short bones are similar in length in all dimensions.
• Most carpal (wrist) and tarsal (ankle) bones are examples of short bones.

Flat Bones

• Flat bones are flat and plate-like in shape.
• Examples of flat bones include the bones of the skull (cranial bones), rib cage, and scapula (shoulder blade).

Irregular Bones

• Irregular bones have an irregular shape.
• Examples of irregular bones include the vertebrae (spine), hip bones, and mandible (jaw).

Sesamoid Bones

• Sesamoid bones are small, round, and embedded in tendons.
• The patella (kneecap) is an example of a sesamoid bone.

Joints Classification

• Joints are categorized into three types based on their range of movement: immovable, partly movable, and movable.
• Examples of movable joints include the shoulder, which can move in multiple directions.

Structural Classification of Joints

• Cartilaginous joints are connected by hyaline cartilage and lack a joint cavity.
• Fibrous joints are connected by dense connective tissue and also lack a joint cavity.
• Synovial joints have a fluid-filled cavity called a bursa, which surrounds and cushions the articulating bones.

Learn about the different types of bones in the human body, including long bones and short bones, and their characteristics.