SKELETON

n. Ske^l'e^-t'n. Gr., tnetXerov (from 0Ke\\fiv, to dry up). Lat., sceletus. Fr., squelette. Ger., Skelett, Skelet, S. A hard portion of the body designed for the support or protection of the soft parts. See also ENDOSKELETON and EXOSKELETON. Axial s. The vertebral column, skull, sternum, and ribs, in contradistinction to the appendicular parts. [C, 3; L, 153.] Branchial s. Ger., Kiemenskelett. The o eous or cartilaginous support of branchiae. [L.] Cartilaginous s. Ger., Knorpelskelett. The embryonic cartilaginous precursor of the entire s. except the vault of the cranium, the bones of the face, and the inner plate of the pterygoid proce of the sphenoid bone. [A, 70.] Cranio-vertebral s. That portion of the s. that includes the cranium and the vertebrae. Dermal s. Ger., Huutskelett. See EXOSKELETON. [s. 491]