Final answer:
The skeleton is divided into the axial and appendicular skeletons. The axial skeleton forms the central axis of the body and consists of 80 bones that protect vital organs, while the appendicular skeleton includes 126 bones of the limbs and girdles.
Step-by-step explanation:
Axial and Appendicular Skeletons
The skeletal system is traditionally divided into two major parts: the axial skeleton and the appendicular skeleton. The axial skeleton forms the vertical, central axis of the body and consists of 80 bones, including the skull, vertebral column, and thoracic cage. It serves to protect vital organs such as the brain, spinal cord, heart, and lungs. Moreover, it provides an attachment site for muscles that move the head, neck, and back, as well as muscles that act across the shoulder and hip joints to move their corresponding limbs.
The appendicular skeleton, on the other hand, consists of the bones of the upper and lower limbs, and the girdles that anchor these limbs to the axial skeleton. This includes the pectoral or shoulder girdle, which attaches the upper limbs to the body, and the pelvic girdle that attaches the lower limbs. Overall, the appendicular skeleton is composed of 126 bones.
The appendicular skeleton is responsible for a significant amount of the body's movement and allows for a vast range of motion. It includes the bones located within the limbs themselves, as well as the girdle bones that connect the limbs to the axial skeleton.