How Many Bones do a Male and a Female Have?

Males and females have the same number of bones. The skeleton of an adult person is made up of 206 bones. The bone mass accounts for around 14% of total body weight (10-11 kg for an average individual) and achieves maximal density around age 21. These include the spine's vertebrae, ribs, arms and legs. Bones provide structural support for our bodies, protect our soft tissues and organs, and act as a reservoir for the body's calcium and phosphate circulation. The bone amount, density, structure, and length of male and female bodies differ. Female bones are softer and have bigger pelvic cavities to facilitate childbirth, but male bones are more robust.

People born with specific genetic abnormalities are an exception to this rule in terms of anatomy. These might be relatively few ribs (agenesis) or numerous ribs (supernumerary).

Examples of bones

An adult body is mostly made up of 206 different bones that are divided into two groups:

1. The axial skeleton

2. The appendicular skeleton

Axial Skeleton: Because the axial skeleton runs along the body's center axis, it is referred to as the central core of the human body. The axial skeleton has 80 bones, which include:

• Skull Bone - It comprises eight cranial bones, fourteen face bones, six auditory ossicles, and the Hyoid Bone.

• The Thoracic Cage consists of 25 thoracic bones, including a breastbone and 24 ribs.

• The Vertebral Column Bone- It consists of 24 vertebrae bones, the sacrum bone, and the coccyx bone.

Appendicular Skeleton: It is engaged in axial skeleton movement. The appendicular skeleton is made up of 126 bones, including the

• Pectoral Girdle (4 Bones)

• Upper Limbs (60 Bones)

• Lower Limbs (60 Bones)

• Pelvic Girdle (2 Bones)

The appendicular and axial skeleton combines to produce the human body's frame of 206 bones. The appendicular skeleton, unlike the axial skeleton, is unfused. This gives us a considerably wider range of motion.