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The skeleton maintains the shape of the body, protects internal organs and makes locomotion possible.
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The
vertebrae
support the body and protect the spinal cord. They consist of:
cervical vertebrae
in the neck,
thoracic vertebrae
in the chest region which articulate with the ribs,
lumbar vertebrae
in the loin region,
sacral vertebrae
fused to the pelvis to form the sacrum and
tail
or
coccygeal vertebrae
.
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The
skull
protects the brain and sense organs. The
cranium
forms a solid box enclosing the brain. The
mandible
forms the jaw.
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The forelimb consists of the
humerus, radius, ulna, carpals, metacarpals
and
phalanges
. It moves against or
articulates
with the
scapula
at the shoulder joint.
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The hindlimb consists of the
femur, patella, tibia, fibula, tarsals, metatarsals
and
digits
. It moves against or articulates with the
pelvis
at the hip joint.
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Bones articulate against each other at
joints
.
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Compact bone
in the shaft of long bones gives them their strength.
Spongy bone
at the ends reduces weight. Bone growth occurs at the
growth plate
.