What Is the Skeleton?
The skeleton is the bony framework of the body that is present in all vertebrate animals. It consists of bones, ligaments, and cartilage. The skeleton is composed of the hard tissues of the body, and its primary functions are to support the body, to provide a system of levers used in locomotion, to protect the soft organs of the body, and to produce red blood cells (hematopoiesis). A dog’s skeleton is formed so the dog can run fast, hunt and chase. For example, a dog’s shoulder blades are not tightly connected to its skeleton, so the dog has potential for greater motion and flexibility. The dog skeleton has an average of 319 bones. Where Is the Skeleton Located? The skeleton is located throughout the entire head and body.
