Which system protects and supports body organs and provides a framework the muscles use to support movement?

• A. Nervous system
• B. Skeletal system
• C. Endocrine system
• D. Digestive system

Answer: (B)

Movement relies on a sturdy framework that also shields essential organs. That framework is the skeletal system: bones form the rigid structure of the body and protect vital organs—like the skull guarding the brain, the rib cage safeguarding the heart and lungs, and the vertebrae surrounding the spinal cord. Muscles attach to bones via tendons, and when they contract they pull on these bones across joints, using the skeleton as levers to create movement. Cartilage at the joints helps cushions and allows smooth motion. While other systems handle signaling and digestion, the skeleton uniquely provides the protective, supportive framework that muscles use to produce movement.