All of us have the same basic skeletal structures (206 bones in the adult skeleton) that identify us as human. But, between the young and old, male and female, and among ancestral groups, there are recognizable skeletal variations.
Long, short, flat, or irregular—a bone's external shape and internal structure suits its job in the body. Bones provide attachment sites for muscles and let us move by means of joints. Bones protect our internal organs—especially the brain, spinal cord, heart, and lungs. Bone supports us in life, and it can last long after death.
An Inside Look at Bone
Discover what lies within your own bones.
Young or Old?
Skeletons record a person's age in several ways.
Male or Female?
Size and sturdiness give us some clues.
Despite variability, our bones carry clues to our ancestry.
Human or Non-Human?
Can you tell the difference between human and non-human bones?
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