Appendicular skeleton


The appendicular skeleton is the portion of the skeleton of vertebrates consisting of the bones that support the appendages. The appendicular skeleton includes the skeletal elements within the limbs, as well as supporting shoulder girdle pectoral and pelvic girdle. The word appendicular is the adjective of the noun appendage, which itself means a part that is joined to something larger.

Human structure

Of the 206 bones in the human skeleton, the appendicular skeleton comprises 126. Functionally it is involved in locomotion of the axial skeleton and manipulation of objects in the environment.
The appendicular skeleton forms during development from cartilage, by the process of endochondral ossification.
The appendicular skeleton is divided into six major regions:
  1. Shoulder girdles - Left and right clavicle and scapula.
  2. Arms and forearms - Left and right humerus , ulna and radius .
  3. Hands - Left and right carpals , metacarpals, proximal phalanges, intermediate phalanges and distal phalanges.
  4. Pelvis - Ilium, Ischium and Pubis.
  5. Thighs and legs - Left and right femur , patella , tibia and fibula .
  6. Feet and ankles - Left and right tarsals , metatarsals, proximal phalanges, intermediate phalanges and distal phalanges.
It is important to realize that through anatomical variation it is common for the skeleton to have many accessory bones.
The appendicular skeleton of 126 bones and the axial skeleton of 80 bones together form the complete skeleton of 206 bones in the human body. Unlike the axial skeleton, the appendicular skeleton is unfused. This allows for a much greater range of motion.

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