The skeletal system is the body system composed of bones and cartilage and performs the following critical functions for the human body Just as the steel beams of a building provide a scaffold to support its weight, the bones and cartilage of your skeletal system compose the scaffold that supports the rest of your body.

Bone , or osseous tissue , is a hard, dense connective tissue that forms most of the adult skeleton, the support structure of the body. In the areas of the skeleton where bones move (for example, the ribcage and joints), cartilage , a semi-rigid form of connective tissue, provides flexibility and smooth surfaces for movement.

skeletal system — organ system composed of bones and cartilage that provides for movement, support, and protection. bone — hard, dense connective tissue that forms the structural elements of the skeleton. cartilage — semi-rigid connective tissue found on the skeleton in areas where flexibility and smooth surfaces support movement. osseous tissue — bone tissue; a hard, dense connective tissue that forms the structural elements of the skeleton.

Be able to define bone, cartilage, and the skeletal system; list and describe the functions of the skeletal system; describe the function of each category of bones.