What does the skeletal system do? At the simplest level, the skeleton is the framework that provides structure to the rest of the body and facilitates movement. It includes over 200 bones, cartilage, and ligaments.
Bones are categorized by their shape and function into five groups:
The axial skeleton includes all the bones that form bony structures along the body's long axis:
The bones of the appendicular skeleton are for structures that append to the axial skeleton:
Joints of the skeletal system can be categorized by range of motion:
Joints of the skeletal system can also be categorized by their structure:
