Final answer:
The bones of the human skeleton are divided into long, short, flat, sutural, sesamoid, and irregular bones, each serving unique functions such as movement, stability, protection, and support.
Step-by-step explanation:
The bones of the human skeleton are classified by their shape: long bones, short bones, flat bones, sutural bones, sesamoid bones, and irregular bones.
Each type of bone shape has a unique function that corresponds to its design.
Classification of Bones by Shape
- Long bones function primarily as levers; they can be found in the arms (humerus, radius, ulna) and legs (femur, tibia, fibula).
- Short bones are cube-like and act to provide support while allowing for some motion, examples include the carpals in the wrist and the tarsals in the ankles.
- Flat bones serve as points of attachment for muscles and often protect internal organs; the skull, ribs, and sternum are such bones.
- Sutural bones are small, irregular bones found between the flat bones of the skull.
- Sesamoid bones, like the patella, are embedded in tendons and protect them from stress and wear.
- Irregular bones have complex shapes that fit none of the preceding categories, such as the vertebrae and many facial bones.