The human skeleton is the internal framework for the human body. It consists of many individual bones and cartilages, as well as bands of fibrous connective tissue—the ligaments and the tendons—which serve in intimate relationship with the parts of the skeleton.
The skeleton acts as a scaffold by providing support and protection for the soft tissues that make up the rest of the body. The skeletal system also provides attachment points for muscles to allow movements at the joints.
Bones of the appendicular skeleton facilitate movement, while bones of the axial skeleton protect internal organs. All skeletal structures belong to either the appendicular skeleton (girdles and limbs) or to the axial skeleton (skull, vertebral column, and thoracic cage).
The skeletal system comprises 206 bones and has two main parts: the axial skeleton and the appendicular skeleton. The skeletal system includes your bones, ligaments that attach bone to bone, and cartilage that provides padding between your bones.
If you’re picturing your skeletal system, you might think of the plastic skeleton your science teacher used to keep in their classroom. It does contain all your bones, but your skeletal system has lots of other tissue, too.
The skeleton is traditionally divided into two major parts: the axial skeleton (which includes the skull, spine, and rib cage) and the appendicular skeleton (which includes the appendages and the girdles that attach them to the axial skeleton).
Skeletons can be defined by several attributes. Solid skeletons consist of hard substances, such as bone, cartilage, or cuticle. These can be further divided by location; internal skeletons are endoskeletons, and external skeletons are exoskeletons.
Human skeleton anatomy describes the bones inside our body that give us shape and support. The skeleton helps us stand, sit, walk, and move. It also protects important organs like the brain, heart, and lungs. At birth, a human baby has about 270 bones. As we grow, some bones join together.