Which of the following makes up the skeletal structure?

• A. Muscles, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage
• B. Nerves, blood vessels, bones, and cartilage
• C. bones, cartilage, ligaments, tendons
• D. Heart, lungs, kidneys, liver

Answer: (C)

The skeletal structure is formed by bones providing the framework, cartilage at joints for cushion and shape, ligaments binding bones to each other to stabilize joints, and tendons attaching muscles to bones to enable movement. These components together make up the skeleton’s framework. Muscles belong to the muscular system, nerves and blood vessels are part of the nervous and circulatory systems, and the listed organs are internal organs—not part of the skeleton. So bones, cartilage, ligaments, and tendons best represent the skeletal structure.