Important Bones in the Human Body

For Wilderness First Aid and Survival

Skull

Bony structure of the head; protects the brain and supports the face.

Orbits

The bony eye sockets in the skull.

Maxilla

The upper jaw; forms part of the roof of the mouth and supports the upper teeth.

Mandible

The lower jaw; the movable bone used for chewing and speaking.It is the largest bone of the face and connects with the maxilla at the temporomandibular joint.

Clavicle

The collarbone; runs between the sternum and shoulder.

Sternum

The breastbone; centered at the front of the chest.

Xiphoid Process

The small lower tip of the sternum.

Humerus

The upper arm bone; runs from shoulder to elbow.

Radius

A forearm bone on the thumb side, when the palm faces forward.

Ulna

A forearm bone on the little-finger side, when the palm faces forward.

Pelvis

The group of bones forming the hip region; supports the trunk and protects pelvic organs.

Femur

The thigh bone; runs from hip to knee.

Patella

The kneecap; sits at the front of the knee.

Fibula

The smaller lower-leg bone; located on the outer side of the leg.

Tibia

The larger lower-leg bone; located on the inner side and commonly called the shinbone.

Scapula

The shoulder blade; located on the upper back.

Cervical Vertebrae

The seven vertebrae in the neck.

Thoracic Vertebrae

The vertebrae in the mid-back, where the ribs attach.

Lumbar Vertebrae

The vertebrae in the lower back.

Coccyx (tailbone)

The small bone at the bottom of the spine.

Sacrum

The triangular bone at the base of the spine, between the hip bones.