What consists of the skeletal system, and how do they function?
In biology, the skeleton is a strong and often a rigid framework that supports the body of an animal, holding it upright and giving it shape and strength (Also skeletal system and, in special cases, shell or test). The skeleton may be an exoskeleton (external, such as exists in many invertebrates) or an endoskeleton (internal, as in vertebrates. It may be mineralized, or not. It may be jointed, or not. If external, it may be moulted periodically, or not. This article is mostly about the human skeleton, an endoskeleton. The average adult human skeleton has around 206 bones. [1] These bones meet at joints, the majority of which are freely movable, making the skeleton flexible and mobile. The skeleton also contains cartilage for elasticity. Ligaments are strong strips of fibrous connective tissue that hold bones together at joints, thereby stabilizing the skeleton during movement. A skeleton provides “cages” to protect the delicate organs. For example: the ribcage helps protect the lungs,
