What is a skeleton?
A skeleton is a framework that supports and protects the body of an organism.
What are the three main types of skeletons in animals?
Endoskeleton, exoskeleton, and hydrostatic skeleton.
What is an endoskeleton?
An endoskeleton is an internal skeleton found inside the body of an animal, such as in vertebrates like humans.
What is an exoskeleton?
An exoskeleton is a hard outer covering that provides support and protection to animals like insects and crustaceans.
What is a hydrostatic skeleton?
A hydrostatic skeleton is a flexible skeleton supported by fluid-filled cavities, found in animals like worms and jellyfish.
What are the advantages of an endoskeleton?
Endoskeletons grow with the body, provide strong internal support, and allow for greater body size and flexibility.
What are the advantages of an exoskeleton?
Exoskeletons provide protection from predators, prevent water loss, and serve as a tough external shield.
What are the limitations of a hydrostatic skeleton?
Hydrostatic skeletons limit movement to certain environments (usually water) and provide less structural support than rigid skeletons.
How many bones are there in the adult human skeleton?
There are 206 bones in the adult human skeleton.
What are the two main divisions of the human skeleton?
The axial skeleton and the appendicular skeleton.
What is the axial skeleton?
The axial skeleton includes the skull, vertebral column, and rib cage. It supports the central axis of the body.
What is the appendicular skeleton?
The appendicular skeleton consists of the limbs and girdles (pelvic and pectoral girdles), allowing movement.
What are the functions of the human skeleton?
The human skeleton provides support, protection for organs, allows movement, stores minerals, and produces blood cells.
What are long bones?
Long bones, such as the femur and humerus, are longer than they are wide and act as levers for movement.
What are flat bones?
Flat bones, like the skull and ribs, provide protection for organs and a surface for muscle attachment.
What are the main types of joints in the human body?
Hinge joints (e.g., elbow), ball-and-socket joints (e.g., shoulder), pivot joints (e.g., neck), and gliding joints (e.g., wrist).
What is the role of cartilage in the skeletal system?
Cartilage provides cushioning between bones, allowing smooth movement at joints and reducing friction.
What is osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is a condition where bones become weak and brittle due to loss of bone density, increasing the risk of fractures.
What is bone marrow?
Bone marrow is the soft tissue inside bones that produces blood cells, including red and white blood cells.
What is the largest bone in the human body?
The femur (thigh bone) is the largest bone in the human body.
What is the vertebral column?
The vertebral column, or spine, is a series of bones that protect the spinal cord and support the body's structure.
How many vertebrae are in the human spine?
The human spine typically has 33 vertebrae, which are divided into five regions.
What are the five regions of the vertebral column?
The five regions are cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal.
What is the cervical vertebrae?
The cervical vertebrae consist of 7 bones in the neck region that support the head and allow for its movement.
What is the thoracic vertebrae?
The thoracic vertebrae consist of 12 bones in the upper back, where ribs are attached to protect the heart and lungs.
What is the lumbar vertebrae?
The lumbar vertebrae consist of 5 large bones in the lower back that bear most of the body's weight.
What is the sacral vertebrae?
The sacral vertebrae consist of 5 fused bones at the base of the spine, forming the sacrum, which connects the spine to the pelvis.
What is the coccygeal vertebrae?
The coccygeal vertebrae consist of 4 fused bones that form the coccyx, or tailbone, at the very bottom of the spine.
What are intervertebral discs?
Intervertebral discs are cartilage pads between vertebrae that act as shock absorbers and allow flexibility in the spine.
What is the role of the vertebrae?
The vertebrae protect the spinal cord, support the head, and provide attachment points for muscles and ribs.
1 / 30