Difference Between Axial and Appendicular Systems
Below the table, we will discuss the difference between the axial and appendicular systems on various features:
Features |
Axial system |
Appendicular system |
| Location | Located along the midline axis of the body. | located in the limbs and girdles. |
| Component Bones | Head, Neck, Spine, and Rib Cage | Upper Limbs, Lower Limbs, Pelvis, and Shoulders |
| Number of Bones | 80 | 126 |
| Functions | The brain, spinal cord, heart, and lungs are among the organs of the head, neck, and trunk that the axial skeleton supports and safeguards. | The appendicular skeleton supports movement and mobility, allowing the body to walk, run, jump, and lift objects. |
| Shape and structure of bones | Tend to be irregular in shape, such as the vertebrae, which have a bony arch. | More tubular, such as the femur bone in the leg. |
| Embryonic origin | Develops from the Somites, which are mesodermal blocks that form along the neural tube. | Develops from the lateral plate mesoderm, which forms the body wall and limbs. |
| Joints | Fewer joints, allow limited movements, for example, a Fibrous joint in the skull between flat skull bones and cartilaginous joints between adjacent vertebrae in the vertebral column. | More joints are involved in various types of movements. For example ball and socket, hinge, and pivot joints. |
| Growth in Relation to puberty | Little growth potential after puberty. | Continues to grow and change throughout life, with bone remodeling occurring in response to activity levels and other factors. |
| Muscles | Located in the central axis of the body. | Located in the limbs and girdles that attach the limbs to the axial skeleton |
Difference Between Axial and Appendicular
Axial and appendicular skeletons are the two main divisions of the human skeletal system. The axial skeleton includes bones from the central axis of the body, while the appendicular skeleton includes bones of the limbs and the girdles (shoulder and pelvic) that attach them to the axial skeleton.
The axial skeleton includes the skull, vertebral column, and ribcage. These bones protect the vital organs in the head and torso and provide support and structure for the body. The appendicular skeleton includes the bones of the arms, legs, hands, and feet. These bones are involved in movement and locomotion and also play a role in manipulating the environment.