Short Bones

Short bones are found in areas of the body that require a lot of movement and flexibility, such as the wrists and ankles. These bones are shaped like a cube and are made up of a hard outer layer of compact bone and a spongy bone center.

The compact bone provides protection and support, while the spongy bone allows for movement and flexibility. This unique combination of compact and spongy bone allows for complex movements such as gripping and bending.

In some cases, short bones can even glide on top of each other, as found in the movement of the carpal bones in the wrist.

Figure 1: The carpal bones are short bones found in the wrist.