Skeletal system - common knowledge Yes, of course, I know - everyone knows that the skeleton is a framework made up of bones and connective tissue for support, protection, and locomotion of the body's structures and systems throughout the human growth and development process. The skeleton plays a critical role in the body's structural functions and its correct functioning. The constituent parts of the skeletal system are the skull, or cranial bones; the ribs, sternum, and vertebrae; and the hip, shoulder, leg, wrist, and finger bones. There are 206 distinct bone structures in adult humans