91热爆

What is a skeleton?

Image caption,
All mammals have skeletons, like this cat.

Many animals have skeletons to support and protect their body and to help it move.

The human skeleton is made of bones which grow as we grow. Your bones come in all shapes and sizes. Some of the largest are in your legs, and the smallest are in your ears.

Image caption,
All mammals have skeletons, like this cat.
Back to top

Watch: Why is the skeleton important?

This video will show you why the skeleton is incredibly important for us humans!

Watch Mr No-Skeleton show us the importance of our bones.

Back to top

Functions of the skeleton

An illustrated crab.
Image caption,
Some animals, such as insects, crabs and lobsters, have a skeleton outside their body. These are called exoskeletons.

All your bones have specific functions:

  1. Protection - Your skull protects your brain, and your ribs protect your heart, lungs and other vital .

  2. Support - The bones in your legs, back and neck keep you upright.

  3. Movement - Your muscles pull on your bones so that you can move. between bones, like your elbows and knees, make this easier.

It is important to eat a healthy diet with enough to help your bones grow properly. We find calcium in dairy products like milk and cheese.

An illustrated crab.
Image caption,
Some animals, such as insects, crabs and lobsters, have a skeleton outside their body. These are called exoskeletons.
Back to top

Activity 1: Skeleton selection

Try to identify the different parts of the skeleton.

Back to top

Activity 2: Skeleton quiz

How much have you learnt about the skeleton? Try this quiz to find out!

Back to top

Activity 3: Label the joints

Let's try to identify our joints.

  1. Find a picture of yourself or print one out.
  2. Draw arrows to each part of your body where you think there is a joint.
  3. Explain why this part of the body has a joint.

Why do we need two joints in our hips?

Back to top

Bitesize Primary games. game

Play fun and educational primary games in science, maths, English, history, geography, art, computing and modern languages.

Bitesize Primary games
Back to top

More on Animals including humans

Find out more by working through a topic