Skeletal System
Contents
Key Stage 1
Meaning
A skeleton is all the bones inside an animal.
Key Stage 2
Meaning
The skeleton is a group of bones that support an animal and help it move.
About Skeletons
- The skeleton is made up of all the bones in an animal.
- Muscles are attached to the bones in the skeleton that allows us to move.
- The rib cage is part of the skeleton and this protects the heart and lungs.
- The skull is part of the skeleton and this protects our brain.
- Without a skeleton our bodies would be like jelly and we wouldn't be able to stand up or move about easily.
Animal Skeletons
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| An elephant's skeleton showing the bones and tusks. Notice the trunk has no bones inside it. | A fish has a Backbone as part of its skeleton. |
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| A crab has an exo-skeleton which means its skeleton is on the outside, not the inside of its body. | A dolphin's skeleton. |
Animals Without Skeletons
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| An octopus does not have a skeleton and just uses muscles to move underwater. | An octopus cannot move easily on land because it has no skeleton to support it. |
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| A jellyfish is an animal that has no bones. It moves in water with its muscles. | When a jellyfish gets washed up on the beach it cannot move because it has no skeleton to support it. |
Key Stage 3
Meaning
The skeletal system is an organ system in animals made of bones that work together to help the animal move, protect the vital organs and make blood cells.
About the Skeletal System
- The skeletal system is made of bones and ligaments.
- The ligaments in the skeletal system hold the bones together.
- The bones in the skeletal system make blood cells inside the bone marrow.
There are some bones you should know the common names for:
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| Some common names for bones in the skeletal system. |
Key Stage 4
Meaning
The skeletal system is an organ system in animals made of bones that work together to help the animal move, protect the vital organs and make blood cells.
About the Skeletal System
- The skeletal system is made of bones and ligaments.
- The ligaments in the skeletal system hold the bones together.
- The bones in the skeletal system make blood cells inside the bone marrow.
There are some bones you should know the common names for:
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| Some common names for bones in the skeletal system. |