Which bones are flat bones?

Which bones are flat bones?

• A. Carpals and tarsals
• B. Bones of the ribs, shoulder blades, pelvis, and skull
• C. Vertebrae
• D. Femur

Answer: (B)

Flat bones are broad, thin plates that often have surfaces good for protection and for muscles to attach to. They tend to be curved and have a outer layer of compact bone with spongy bone inside in many cases. The bones listed here—the ribs, the shoulder blades (scapulae), the skull, and the pelvis—fit that description well. Ribs shield the heart and lungs, the scapula provides a wide surface for arm muscles to attach, the skull protects the brain, and the pelvic bones form a broad protective ring around pelvic organs and offer attachments for powerful muscles. In contrast, the carpals and tarsals are short bones with a compact, cube-like shape; vertebrae are irregular in form; and the femur is a long bone.

Flat bones are broad, thin plates that often have surfaces good for protection and for muscles to attach to. They tend to be curved and have a outer layer of compact bone with spongy bone inside in many cases. The bones listed here—the ribs, the shoulder blades (scapulae), the skull, and the pelvis—fit that description well. Ribs shield the heart and lungs, the scapula provides a wide surface for arm muscles to attach, the skull protects the brain, and the pelvic bones form a broad protective ring around pelvic organs and offer attachments for powerful muscles. In contrast, the carpals and tarsals are short bones with a compact, cube-like shape; vertebrae are irregular in form; and the femur is a long bone.