The Axial and Appendicular Skeletons.

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Unit Assignment 1

The Axial and Appendicular Skeletons.

The axial skeleton consists of the cranium (skill), the vertebral column (spine) and the rib cage; it is the main area of support for the body.

The appendicular skeleton consists of the appendages, or the bones of the limbs, together with the girdles that join onto the axial skeleton.

Bones in the Axial skeleton:

Cranium

Sternum

Vertebral Column

Sacrum

Llium

Bones in the Appendicular skeleton:

Ulna

Radius

Humerus

Clavicle

Scapular

Phalanges

Metacarpals

Carpals

Pubis

Femur

Patella

Tibia

Fibula

Tarsals

Metatarsals

These bones can be put into four bone type groups, there is flat, long, short, irregular and Sesamoid.

Long Bones

Long bones are cylindrical in shape, and are found in the limbs of the body, examples of long bones are;

Femur

Tibia

Humerus

Phalanges (although not great in length, these possess the cylindrical shape and so also are long bones)

Long bones primary functions are to act as levers; therefore they are essential in movement, i.e. when running, the