Human Anatomy: Bones of the Skull

The frontal bone forms the forehead and the roof of the orbits (eye sockets).

The parietal bones form the sides and roof of the skull.

The temporal bones form the lower sides of the skull and house the middle and inner ears.

The occipital bone forms the back of the skull and contains the foramen magnum, a large opening through which the spinal cord passes.

The sphenoid bone forms the base of the skull and joins with other cranial bones.

The ethmoid bone forms part of the roof of the nasal cavity and contributes to the orbits (eye sockets).

The nasal bones form the bridge of the nose.

The first 7 vertebrae in the neck, supporting the skull and providing flexibility.

The 12 vertebrae in the middle of the spine, connecting to the ribs and forming the rib cage.

The 5 lower vertebrae in the spine, supporting the weight of the upper body and allowing for movement.

A large triangular bone at the base of the spine, formed by the fusion of 5 vertebrae.

The small, triangular bone at the very end of the spine, formed by the fusion of 3-5 vertebrae.

The long, flat bone in the front of the chest that connects the ribs.

Ribs that directly attach to the sternum via their costal cartilage

Ribs that attach indirectly to the sternum, with their costal cartilage connecting to the seventh costal cartilage.

Ribs that do not attach to the sternum at all.

A rounded knob on a bone that forms a joint with another bone. Condyles help support the articular surface and absorb force at the joint.

A bony area above or near a condyle. Epicondyles serve as attachment points for muscles and ligaments.

A projection that sticks out from a bone, often for muscle or ligament attachment.

A prominent bulge on a bone, often for muscle or ligament attachment.

A small, rounded bump on a bone, often for tendon or ligament attachment.

The scapula (shoulder blade) is a triangular bone that forms the back part of the shoulder girdle, connecting the humerus (upper arm bone) to the clavicle (collarbone).

The clavicle (collarbone) is a long, S-shaped bone situated at the front of the chest. It connects the scapula to the sternum (breastbone) and forms part of the shoulder girdle.

The humerus is the long bone of the upper arm, connecting the shoulder joint to the elbow joint.

The radius is one of the two long bones in the forearm. It is located on the thumb side of the forearm and helps with rotation of the hand.

The ulna is one of the two long bones in the forearm, situated on the pinky side of the forearm. This bone helps with rotation of your hand.

The carpal bones are eight small bones that make up the wrist. They are arranged in two rows and connect the radius and ulna to the metacarpal bones of the hand.

The metacarpal bones are five long bones that form the palm of the hand. Each metacarpal bone connects to one of the finger bones (phalanges).

The phalanges are the bones that make up the fingers. There are 14 phalanges in each hand, with three in each finger except the thumb, which has only two.

The trapezium is one of the carpal bones, located on the thumb side of the wrist. It helps with thumb movement and stability.

The hamate is one of the carpal bones, located on the pinky side of the wrist. It helps with hand movement and stability.

The ilium is the largest and uppermost part of the hip bone, forming the wing-like structure of the pelvis.

The ischium is the lower and posterior part of the hip bone, forming the bony prominence you sit on.

The pubis is the anterior and inferior part of the hip bone, forming the front of the pelvic girdle.

The femur is the longest and strongest bone in the human body, located in the thigh.

The tibia is the larger of the two bones in the lower leg, located in the shin.

The fibula is the thinner bone in the lower leg, located on the outside of the shin.

The patella, also known as the kneecap, is a small, flat bone that protects the front of the knee joint.

The talus is a bone in the ankle that connects the tibia and fibula to the foot.

The calcaneus (heel bone) is the largest bone in the foot and forms the heel.

The navicular is a bone located on the inside of the foot, between the talus and the three cuneiform bones.

The cuboid is a cube-shaped bone located on the outside of the foot, near the heel.

The cuneiform bones are three wedge-shaped bones located on the inside of the foot, between the navicular and the metatarsals.

The metatarsal bones are five long bones located in the midfoot, between the tarsals and the phalanges.

The phalanges are the bones of the toes, similar to the bones of the fingers.