Skeleton: (1) The bony framework of the body in vertebrates (endoskeleton) or the hard outer envelope of insects (exoskeleton or dermoskeleton). (2) All the dry parts remaining after the destruction and removal of the soft parts; this includes ligaments and cartilages as well as bones. (3) All the bones of the body taken collectively. (4) A rigid or semirigid nonosseous structure that functions as the supporting framework of a particular structure. [G. skeletos, dried, ntr. skeleton, a mummy, a skeleton]
Source: Stedman's Medical Spellchecker, © 2006 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.
Skeleton: the hard structure (bones and cartilages) that provides a frame for the body of an animal.
Source: WordNet 2.1
Skeleton (organ): The skeleton is made up of bones, cartilage and ligaments. The skeleton is a living structure and has a variety of functions. The skeleton creates a framework to support the body's weight, protects tissues and organs, and facilitates movement and store minerals, such as calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus. The skeleton also contains bone marrow, which makes red blood cells and some types of white blood cells. The skeleton is held together by ligaments, forming joints.
Although there are individual differences in number, there are generally about 206 bones in the adult skeleton. The skeleton includes two groups of bones: bones the axial skeleton and bones of the appendicular skeleton. Conditions that afflict the skeleton include fractures, tumors, cancer, dislocations, Paget's disease, genetic disorders and osteoporosis.
Skeleton (organ): The skeleton provides an anchor point against which muscles, attached via tendons, can exert force. There are a number of diseases that are caused by defects in genes important for the formation and function of muscles, and connective tissues. (Connective tissue is a broad term that includes bones, cartilage and tendons.)
Skeleton (organ): See Skeleton (organ information).
More information on organs: Skeleton:
Source - WordNet 2.1
Source - MeSH 2007
Source - MeSH 2007
Source - WordNet 2.1
Source - WordNet 2.1
The following list attempts to classify Skeleton into categories where each line is subset of the next.
Source: WordNet 2.1
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