Types of Bones
Long bones are longer than they are wide and function as levers when muscles contract. Examples include the humerus, radius, and ulna in your arms; the femur, tibia, and fibula in your legs; and the metacarpals and phalanges in your fingers and toes. These bones enable most of your body's movement.
Short bones are cube-shaped with roughly equal dimensions in length, width, and thickness. Found in your wrists (carpals) and ankles (tarsals), they provide stability and support while allowing limited motion in these complex joints.
Spongy bone forms the interior of most bones, particularly at the ends of long bones (epiphyses). This lightweight structure contains osteocytes housed in small cavities called lacunae, with a lattice-like network of bony spikes called trabeculae that provide strength while minimizing weight.
Pro tip: When studying bone types, relate them to their functions—long bones create movement, short bones enable precision, flat bones protect organs, and irregular bones handle complex attachments. This functional approach makes identification much easier!