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Anatomy & Physiology vocabulary · Bones and the Skeleton

Skeleton

Meaning in anatomy & physiology, with examples

/ˈskelɪtən/nounCore term

In anatomy & physiology, skeleton means: The framework of bones and cartilage that supports the body, protects the organs and allows movement. An adult skeleton usually has 206 bones.

In Turkish: iskelet

How it is used

Anatomy courses divide it into the axial skeleton (skull, vertebral column, ribs and sternum) and the appendicular skeleton (the limbs plus the shoulder and pelvic girdles). The adjective is skeletal.

Example sentences

  1. The axial skeleton protects the brain, the spinal cord and the organs in the chest.

  2. We used a plastic skeleton to practise naming the bones.

Common collocations

  • axial skeleton
  • appendicular skeleton
  • human skeleton
  • skeletal system
  • boneThe hard, living tissue that forms the skeleton, and each organ made of it. Bones support the body, protect organs, store calcium and contain the marrow that makes blood cells.
  • skullThe bony structure of the head that protects the brain and forms the face. It is made of many bones joined by immovable joints called sutures, plus the movable lower jaw (mandible).
  • vertebraOne of the roughly 33 small bones stacked to form the spine (vertebral column). Each has a body, an arch and an opening through which the spinal cord passes.
  • rib cageThe bony frame of the chest formed by 12 pairs of ribs, the sternum and the thoracic vertebrae. It protects the heart and lungs and moves during breathing.
  • cartilageA firm but flexible connective tissue with no blood vessels. It covers the ends of bones in joints, gives shape to the nose and ears, and connects the ribs to the sternum.

More terms: Bones and the Skeleton

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.