Bones can be classified by their shape, which often relates to their function and the forces they are designed to withstand.

Common bone shapes include:

• Long bones – cylindrical in shape, longer than they are wide, and act as levers for movement (e.g. femur, humerus).
• Short bones – approximately equal in length, width, and thickness, providing strength and stability with limited movement (e.g. carpals, tarsals).
• Flat bones – thin, flattened bones that protect internal organs and serve as sites for muscle attachment (e.g. sternum, scapula).
• Irregular bones – complex shapes that do not fit into other categories, often with specialised functions (e.g. vertebrae, sphenoid bone).