The human skeleton is a collection of bones held together by ligaments, tendons, muscles and cartilage. The skeleton provides a framework for the body. It holds and protects the organs. It also provides a structure for the interconnecting muscles. Many of the bones, such as the skull, vertebral column or spine, and thoracic cage or ribs are designed to transfer the weight of the head, the trunk, and the upper limbs down to the hip joint and lower limbs. this transfers the weight to the ground, and is responsible for maintaining the upright position of the body. Many bones are connected at joints, where the bones are interconnected by muscles. These muscles allow the bones to move relative to each other, allowing us to walk, run and any other activity that involves movement of the body. Use the navigation menu on the left to explore individual parts of the skeleton, and learn more about the human body.