Anatomy ‒ Animation

The **human skeleton** is an endoskeleton composed of the axial and appendicular skeletons. The axial skeleton includes the bones of the skull, ossicles of the ear, hyoid bone, vertebral column and ribcage. The skull consists of eight cranial bones and 14 facial bones. The middle ear contains six ossicle bones, and the hyoid bone is located in the neck beneath the mandible. The vertebral column contains 26 bones, providing a protective casing for the spinal cord. The thoracic cage includes the sternum, ribs, thoracic vertebrae and costal cartilages. The appendicular skeleton consists of the bones of the upper and lower limbs. The pectoral girdle, comprising the clavicles and scapulae, anchors the upper limbs, each which contain 30 bones in the arm, forearm and hand. The pelvic girdle attaches the lower limbs to the axial skeleton. The lower limbs includes the bones of the thigh, leg and foot. *LICENSES AND ATTRIBUTIONS CC licensed content, Shared previously, Types of Skeletal Systems, Authored by: OpenStax College. License: CC BY: Attribution. License Terms: Download for free at http://cnx.org/contents/sw1Ot2vk@3/Types-of-Skeletal-Systems*