What is the longest and shortest bone in the human body? What are their measurements in inches?


Longest bone in the human body

The longest bone in the human body is called the femur. It’s quite a marvel, measuring around 48 centimeters in length, roughly equal to 18.9 inches. Not just long, it’s also sturdy, capable of supporting about 30 times the weight of an adult. Its width falls between 2.30 – 2.34 cm, or approximately 0.92 inches.

Shortest bone in the human body

On the other end of the spectrum, the shortest bone is nestled in our middle ear and goes by the name of the stapes bone. This little horseshoe-shaped bone plays a crucial role in sending sound waves to our brain. Despite its importance, it’s incredibly tiny, measuring a mere 2-3 mm, which is just about 0.1 inches. That makes it the smallest bone we have.

Bone:

  • The body’s framework and strength come from hard parts in the body known as bones.
  • In people, there are 206 bones that create the body’s skeleton.