Learning the Bones

The skeletal system is dynamic. It remodels throughout life and responds to demands. It gives us structure, helps us move, protects us from harm, produces blood cells, stores minerals, and even has a role in endocrine regulation. It's also a fast and easy way to start the study of anatomy. Yes, there are 206 bones in a typical adult, but when all is said and done, for yoga anatomy, you have less than 30 bone names to learn. Many of them are grouped (like the carpal bones in the wrist) and sometimes learning one name covers 56 bones (phalanges). If you want, you can learn all of the bones in the head, but for our purposes, we'll learn two - cranium (skull) and mandible (jaw). See? This is accessible!

Use the image below to learn the bones. Run through them several times, and find them in your own body. Download this free app to learn more. Review, integrate what you learn into your practice, and teach someone else about the bones. This is a strong and solid start to learning anatomy.

Terminology

• axial skeleton - bones of the midline/axis of the body which are shown in the lighter color above
• appendicular skeleton - bones of the appendages which are shown in the darker color
• upper extremity - arm
• lower extremity - leg