Final answer:
The skull, vertebral column, and thoracic cage combine to form the axial skeleton.
Step-by-step explanation:
The skull, vertebral column, and thoracic cage together form the axial skeleton. The axial skeleton includes the bones that support and protect the central axis of the body, which includes the head, neck, back, and chest. It consists of the skull, the vertebral column (including the sacrum and coccyx), and the thoracic cage, which is formed by the ribs and sternum.