Essential Human Anatomy for Artists

CHAPTER 2

THE SKELETON

The human skeleton, with its 206 bones, is the shape-giving framework of the body. Without a skeleton, muscles, nerves, veins, and skin would be no more than blobs of fibrous tissues lying structureless on the floor. Bones articulate or move against each other at joints and are held in place by strong, non-elastic bands called ligaments. A ligament connects bone to bone; a tendon connects muscle to bone.

Without the skeleton, muscles, veins, and nerves, the skin would have no recognizable form at all.

SELECTED BONES OF THE SKELETON

A. Skull

B. Mandible

C. Vertebral column

D. Cervical vertebrae

E. Clavicle ...