The 5 main functions of the skeletal system:

1. shape= the shape of the skeletal system helps define the body's potential 2. support= The skeleton is the framework of the body, it supports the softer tissues and provides points of attachment for most skeletal muscles

3. protection= The skeleton provides mechanical protection for many of the body's internal organs, reducing risk of injury to them.For example, cranial bones protect the brain, vertebrae protect the spinal cord, and the ribcage protects the heart and lungs.

4. movement = Skeletal muscles are attached to bones, therefore when the associated muscles contract they cause bones to move

5. blood cell production =The red bone marrow inside some larger bones (including, for example, the ....) blood cells are produced

SkullThe skull is part of the axial-sound group. It can also be referred to as the cranium and can be considered to be

the most impressive framework in the skeletal system. The cranium of 28 bones, it provides the structure for vital

organs such as the mouth, nose, eyes and ears. It also protects the brain and provides a frame for the skin.

AxialThe axial skeleton, making up 80 of your 206 bones, encompasses all your upper body bones. It itself is subdivided into three groups: the skull, the vertebral-sound column, and the bony thorax-sound.

It's main purposes are to protect your vital organs, such as the brain, heart, and lungs, and to provide an efficient structure to

perform a variety of work.

The spineThe backbone, or vertebral or spinal column, though called a "bone", is really a flexible structure made of 26 bones. As a baby, you have 33 vertebrae, or back bones, but the lower four fuse to form the coccyx-sound, and the next lower five fuse to become the sacrum. The backbone serves several important functions itself. It provides structure

from which all other upper body structures branch, and it protects the spinal nerve, which is the "highway" that all the information your brain sends to your body travels. If the

spinal column were to be damaging, also damaging the spinal nerve, it would be like the highway collapsed, and all landmarks past that point could no longer be visited, causing

paralyzation from that point in your back and down.

The Bony ThoraxThe bony thorax is basically your chest, comprising your breast bone and ribs. Your breast bone, or sternum-sound, is around 6 inches (15 cm) tall,

spanning about half the length of your ribs.

You have twelve ribs, forming the structure for your chest. One primary purpose of your ribs is to protect your lungs are heart. Except for your

floating ribs, each rib connects to the sternum by cartilage on the tips. Your top seven ribs are called true ribs because they connect directly to the

sternum. The next four ribs are called false ribs because they attach to the sternum so indirectly if at all. If they do not connect to the sternum, they do connect to upper cartilage for support. The last two ribs are called floating

ribs because they do not connect to the sternum or any other support on the end.

The Appendicular Skeleton-soundThe appendicular skeleton refers to your arms and legs. They

are called appendicular (from "append") because they are attached by girdles, which bridge each with the main body, as if they had been appended after the main body was formed. These girdles give these appendages a remarkable range of movement unique from anywhere else in the body. Obviously the arms are the same allowing symmetry, and the legs are too. But ignoring size and shape, and instead focusing on joints and relative placement, your arms and legs are the

same, too.