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

Options

A. 40
B. 34
C. 58
D. 2

Answer

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

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understand the Total Number of Bones**:
- An adult human has a total of 206 bones.

2. **Identify the Axial Skeleton**:
- The axial skeleton consists of the skull, vertebral column, and rib cage.

3. **Determine the Number of Paired Bones**:
- In the axial skeleton, there are 172 paired bones. Paired bones are those that exist in pairs (e.g., left and right).

4. **Calculate the Number of Unpaired Bones**:
- To find the number of unpaired bones, we subtract the number of paired bones from the total number of bones:
\[ \text{Unpaired Bones} = \text{Total Bones} - \text{Paired Bones} \]
\[ \text{Unpaired Bones} = 206 - 172 = 34 \]

5. **Conclusion**:
- Therefore, the number of unpaired bones in the axial skeleton of an adult human is **34**.