Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos
skeleton
References & Edit History Related Topics
Images & Videos
vertebrate: skeleton Diagram comparing the forelimb bone structures of a human, horse, dolphin, box turtle, fruit bat, and chicken, with color-coded bones showing homologous parts to illustrate evolutionary relationships. This diagram traces the evolution of the horse from the small, multi-toed Hyracotherium (dawn horse) of the Eocene epoch to the modern single-toed Equus, showing changes in size, limb structure, and forefoot bones, with illustrations of key ancestral species to scale. Albertosaurus. Complete rabbit skeleton shown in profile against a blue background, highlighting the skull, ribcage, spine, and long hind legs. Diagram of a dog's skeleton in side view, showing labeled bones including the skull, spine, ribs, pelvis, scapula, humerus, radius, ulna, femur, tibia, fibula, and various vertebrae. The top half of the diagram shows a labeled illustration of a horse skeleton, identifying bones such as the skull, vertebrae, pelvis, ribs, and limbs. The bottom half displays the external anatomy of a horse (Equus caballus), with labels for key body points including muzzle, withers, shoulder, back, flank, hock, and hoof. Side-by-side anatomical illustration comparing the right leg of a modern human and a gorilla, showing labeled skeletal structures and major muscles including pelvis, femur, tibia, fibula, and key thigh muscles. Side-by-side skeletal diagrams compare a modern human standing upright and a gorilla walking on all fours, with labeled bones and close-up views of the female pelvis for each species. Illustration of a full human skeleton with all major bones shown in beige and cartilage highlighted in blue, overlaid on a faint outline of a human body.
At a Glance
default image
skeleton summary
Quizzes
Male muscle, man flexing arm, bicep curl.
Facts You Should Know: The Human Body Quiz
Bones of the wrist and hand: dorsal view. skeletal system, human anatomy, appendage, hand bones, wrist bones, metacarpal bones, finger bones, phalanges.
Human Bones Quiz
full human skeleton
The Skeletal Puzzle
Muscles of facial expression, human anatomy, (Netter replacement project - SSC). Human face, human head.
Characteristics of the Human Body
Related Questions

skeleton: References & Edit History

Additional Reading

R.B. Clark, Dynamics in Metazoan Evolution (1964), deals with some aspects of the coelomate condition, hydrostatic skeletons, metamerism, and their evolution. J. Gray, Animal Locomotion (1968), a comprehensive, comparative account of the coordination and mechanisms of vertebrate locomotion, with some chapters on invertebrates (the approach is for the nonspecialist, but the treatment is mathematical and neurological); A.S. Romer, The Vertebrate Body, 4th ed. (1970), an excellent account of the evolution of the skeleton in vertebrates; and J.Z. Young, The Life of Vertebrates, 2nd ed. (1962).

Article Contributors

Primary Contributors

  • William James Hamilton
  • Sidnie M. Manton
    Reader in Zoology, King's College, University of London, 1949–60.
  • The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
    Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.

Other Encyclopedia Britannica Contributors

Article History

Type Description Contributor Date
Add new Web site: CiteSeerX - Curve-Skeleton Properties, Applications and Algorithms (PDF). Apr 06, 2025
Add new Web site: BBC - How modern life is transforming the human skeleton. Feb 22, 2025
Add new Web site: BMC - Zoological Letters - Evolution of the vertebrate skeleton: morphology, embryology, and development. Sep 05, 2024
Add new Web site: National Center for Biotechnology Information - Anatomy, Appendicular Skeleton. Jun 13, 2024
Add new Web site: OpenStax - Biology 2e - Types of Skeletal Systems. Dec 23, 2023
Add new Web site: Stanford University - A History of the Skeleton. Oct 24, 2023
Add new Web site: BCcampus Open Publishing - Biomechanics of Human Movement - The Skeleton. May 29, 2023
Corrected display issue. Jul 30, 2022
Add new Web site: Idaho Public Television - Skeleton. Feb 27, 2017
Add new Web site: Idaho Public Television - Skeleton. Jan 31, 2017
Add new Web site: Easy Science for Kids - Bones and Skeleton οΏ½ Your Bodies Frame. Jan 20, 2017
Add new Web site: Science Kids - Fun Science and technology For Kids! - Skeleton and Bones Facts. Jan 20, 2017
Add new Web site: How Stuff Works - Entertainment - Skeleton. Feb 06, 2011
Added diagram of various vertebrate skeletons. Jan 27, 2011
Added new Web site: How Stuff Works - Healthguide - Skeleton X-ray. Sep 23, 2008
Added new Web site: Enchanted Learning - Human Skeleton. Mar 14, 2008
Cross-references and video added. Oct 16, 2007
Added new Web site: Innerbody - Human Anatomy Online. Sep 01, 2006
Added new Web site: Innerbody - Human Anatomy Online. Sep 01, 2006
Added new Web site: The Articulation Page. Jun 23, 2006
Added new Web site: The Articulation Page. Jun 23, 2006
Article revised. Mar 02, 2001
Article added to new online database. Jul 24, 1998
View Changes:
Article History
Revised:
By: