Bones provide a rigid framework that allows stability, protection, movement, and attachment of muscles and ligaments.
Parts of the skeleton
The human skeleton can be split into 4 parts:
- The axial skeleton
- Formed by the bones of the midline of the body, including the skull, vertebral column, and ribcage.
- It can be thought of as the main axis to which the rest of the skeleton attaches to.
- The bones of the limbs
- Includes the bones of the arms, forearms, hands, thighs, legs, and feet.
- The pectoral girdle
- Formed by the clavicle and scapula.
- It connects the axial skeleton to the arms.
- The pelvic girdle
- Formed by the hip bones, sacrum, and coccyx.
- It connects the axial skeleton to the thighs.