What is a skeleton?

A skeleton refers to the structure made up of bones that supports the body of an organism, providing it with shape and stability. It consists of the axial skeleton, which includes the skull and vertebral column, and the appendicular skeleton, comprising the limbs and pelvic girdle. This bony framework is crucial for protecting vital organs, enabling movement through the attachment of muscles, and producing blood cells within the bone marrow. The other options do not accurately describe what a skeleton is: muscle tissue pertains to muscles; a collection of organs refers to organ systems; and the outer layer of skin is more accurately termed the epidermis. Thus, the definition of a skeleton as the frame of bones supporting a body captures its essential role and function in living organisms.