Which set of bones comprises the axial skeleton?

• A. Skull and limbs
• B. Shoulder girdle and pelvis
• C. Skull, vertebral column, thoracic cage
• D. Pelvic bones

Answer: (C)

Think of the body’s central axis. The axial skeleton includes the skull, the vertebral column, and the thoracic cage. Each part has a protective or supportive role: the skull shields the brain and houses the sensory organs; the vertebral column protects the spinal cord and provides vertical support for the body; the thoracic cage (ribs and sternum) protects the heart and lungs and aids breathing. The other options mix in the shoulder girdle, pelvis, and limbs, which belong to the appendicular skeleton, not the axial. So the set that fits this central framework is skull, vertebral column, and thoracic cage.