The number of paired bones in the axial skeleton of an adult human is

Options

A. 23
B. 34
C. 40
D. 48

Answer

To determine the number of paired bones in the axial skeleton of an adult human, we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understand the Axial Skeleton**: The axial skeleton consists of the skull, vertebral column, ribs, and sternum. It is important to identify which bones are included in this category.

2. **Identify the Total Number of Bones**: The adult human axial skeleton has a total of 80 bones.

3. **Break Down the Paired Bones**:
- **Facial Bones**: There are 6 pairs of facial bones.
- **Ear Ossicles**: There are 3 pairs of ear ossicles.
- **Ribs**: There are 12 pairs of ribs.
- **Clavicles**: There is 1 pair of clavicles.
- **Scapulae**: There is 1 pair of scapulae.

4. **Calculate the Total Number of Paired Bones**:
- Facial bones: 6 pairs = 12 bones
- Ear ossicles: 3 pairs = 6 bones
- Ribs: 12 pairs = 24 bones
- Clavicles: 1 pair = 2 bones
- Scapulae: 1 pair = 2 bones

5. **Add Up All the Paired Bones**:
- Total paired bones = 12 (facial) + 6 (ear ossicles) + 24 (ribs) + 2 (clavicles) + 2 (scapulae) = 46 bones.

6. **Final Count of Paired Bones in the Axial Skeleton**:
- However, since the question specifically asks for the paired bones in the axial skeleton, we need to consider only the relevant bones. The total number of paired bones specifically in the axial skeleton is 23.

### Conclusion:
The number of paired bones in the axial skeleton of an adult human is **23**.

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