Definition
The skeletal system refers to all structures, both rigid and semirigid, which provide structural foundation, support the body’s soft tissues, protect internal organs, and provide necessary leverage for muscle function.
Introduction
Skeletal systems may vary widely between species, but all serve to provide both functional structure and protection from external injury. For most insects, crustaceans, and other invertebrates, this structure is the outermost part of the body and is called an exoskeleton. In vertebrates, this structure is internal and is called an endoskeleton. Vertebrate skeletons are a group of relatively rigid structures composed of a combination of connectives tissues generally classified as bone and cartilage (Encyclopedia Britannica 2018). This chapter will focus on the development, function, and anatomical specifics of the vertebrate skeletal system.
Skeletal System...
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References
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Works, E.A., Moore, D.P. (2019). Skeletal System. In: Vonk, J., Shackelford, T. (eds) Encyclopedia of Animal Cognition and Behavior. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-47829-6_1471-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-47829-6_1471-1
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