<Tr> <Th> FMA </Th> <Td> 71221 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Anatomical terminology (edit on Wikidata) </Td> </Tr> <P> The axial skeleton is the part of the skeleton that consists of the bones of the head and trunk of a vertebrate . In the human skeleton, it consists of 80 bones and is composed of six parts; the skull bones, the ossicles of the middle ear, the hyoid bone, the rib cage, sternum and the vertebral column . The axial skeleton together with the appendicular skeleton form the complete skeleton . Another definition of axial skeleton is the bones including the vertebrae, sacrum, coccyx, ribs, and sternum . </P> <P> Flat bones house the brain and other vital organs . This article mainly deals with the axial skeletons of humans; however, it is important to understand the evolutionary lineage of the axial skeleton . The human axial skeleton consists of 80 different bones . It is the medial core of the body and connects the pelvis to the body, where the appendix skeleton attaches . As the skeleton grows older the bones get weaker with the exception of the skull . The skull remains strong to protect the brain from injury . </P>

Based on their shape the bones of the skull can be classified as