The Axial Skeleton includes the trunk and head and has how many bones?

• A. 156 bones
• B. 206 bones
• C. 256 bones
• D. 300 bones

Answer: (B)

The axial skeleton is the central framework of the body, consisting of the skull, vertebral column, and thoracic cage, plus the hyoid bone. The standard count for this portion is about 80 bones. The skull comprises 28 bones when the auditory ossicles are included. The vertebral column accounts for 26 bones (24 vertebrae plus the fused sacrum and coccyx). The thoracic cage adds 25 bones (24 ribs and the sternum). Add the hyoid bone, and the total comes to 80. Remember, the full skeleton has 206 bones, which is the sum of axial plus appendicular skeleton. The numbers in the options don’t reflect the axial count.