How many bones are in the human body?

Inside the Body

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by Mya Kagan (whyzz writer) >> more about the author

The total number of bones in the average adult human body is 206!

We need these 206 very important bones for lots of things – without them, we would be wiggly like a jellyfish or droopy like a ragdoll! Our bones also help to protect the very special organs inside of our bodies, and they make it possible for us to move our hands, arms, legs, necks, and more!

When a baby is born, it has over 300 bones, but as you grow up, some of these softer or smaller bones fuse together, leaving you with 206 by the time you're fully grown! Having fewer bones that are harder, instead of more bones that are weaker, helps you to be strong, tough, and ready to take on the world!

Some people count the bones in the body differently than others saying that certain bones are just one when others would say that it's two. Lots of people seem to agree that the number for an adult human is 206, but you might also hear that there are other close numbers like 208 or 212 bones in the adult human body. - Those just represent slightly different ways of counting!

What you're made of

Even though you have softer bones as a baby which become harder bones as you grow up, there are some places on your body where you will always have this softer tissue, known as cartilage.

Two really good examples are your ears and the tip of your nose! Feel the way your ear is strong and tough, but not as hard as a bone. Why do you think it’s helpful for ears to have this cartilage instead of a bone? And what are some reasons why your nose might have both a bone and some cartilage??