The Basics - Types of Bone
Anatomical Orientation  |  General Elements  |  Types of Bone

There are four basic bone shapes in the human skeleton.
The terms used to describe each type are:
  • Long
  • Short
  • Flat
  • Irregular


    • Long Bones

    The characteristics associated with long bones are a tubular shaft and articular surface at each end. The major bones of the arms and legs are long bones. These include:

  • Femur, Tibia, Fibula (paired)
  • Humerus, Radius, Ulna (paired)

    • Short Bones

    Similarly, short bones have tubular shafts and articular surfaces at each end but are much smaller. The short bones include:

  • All metacarpals
  • All Phalanges (hands)

  • All metatarsals
  • All Phalanges (feet)

  • Clavicle (paired)

    • Flat Bones

    As the name suggests flat bones are thin and have broad surfaces. These elements include:

  • Innominate (paired)
  • Scapula (paired)
  • All Ribs (24)
  • Sternum

    • Irregular Bones

    Irregular bones are variable in size and shape. These bones are generally compact in nature and are distributed throughout the skeleton. These include:

  • The entire vertebral column including coccygeals
  • 8 Carpal Bones
  • 7 Tarsal Bones
  • Patella (paired)- a sesemoid bone

    • Some bones of the face and the Sphenoid may also be categorized as irregular.



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