The axial skeleton is made up of 80 bones that form the central axis of the body, providing support and protection for the brain, spinal cord, and organs in the thorax. It consists of the following main components:
- Skull : Includes 28 bones, comprising 8 cranial bones that protect the brain and 14 facial bones that form the face. The skull also contains 6 auditory ossicles (small bones) in the middle ear that aid in hearing.
- Hyoid bone : A horseshoe-shaped bone in the neck that supports the tongue and is involved in breathing, speaking, and swallowing.
- Vertebral column (spine) : Made up of 24 individual vertebrae, plus the sacrum (5 fused vertebrae) and the coccyx (3-5 fused vertebrae), totaling 26 bones. It supports the trunk and protects the spinal cord.
- Thoracic cage (rib cage) : Composed of 24 ribs (12 pairs) and the sternum (breastbone), it protects the heart and lungs and provides attachment points for muscles involved in respiration and upper limb movement.
Together, these bones form the head, neck, back, and chest framework that supports the body’s core and protects vital organs
