The appendicular skeleton is one of the two major groups of bones in the human skeleton. It consists of the bones of the limbs (or appendages), and the bones that attach the limbs to the rest of the body.
The appendicular skeleton is a major division of the human skeletal system, consisting of 126 bones that facilitate movement and interaction with the environment. It includes the bones of the upper and lower limbs, as well as the girdles that attach these limbs to the axial skeleton.
The bones of the appendicular skeleton make up the rest of the skeleton, and are so called because they are appendages of the axial skeleton. The appendicular skeleton includes the bones of the shoulder girdle, the upper limbs, the pelvic girdle, and the lower limbs.
The appendicular skeleton is the portion of the vertebrate endoskeleton consisting of the bones, cartilages and ligaments that support the paired appendages (fins, flippers or limbs).
The appendicular skeleton is composed of the bones of the upper limbs (which function to grasp and manipulate objects) and the lower limbs (which permit locomotion).
Of the 206 bones in the adult human body, 126 belong to the appendicular skeleton. This division is primarily concerned with locomotion and the manipulation of objects. This skeletal component is characterized by its significant number of long bones, predominantly articulated via synovial joints.
SEER Training Modules: Appendicular Skeleton (126 bones). U.S. National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute. Cited 23 April 2026. Available from: https://training.seer.cancer.gov.
The appendicular skeleton includes the skeletal elements within the limbs, as well as supporting pectoral and pelvic girdles. The appendicular skeleton comprises 126 bones and is involved in locomotion and manipulation of objects in the environment.