Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution (CBSPD) Sterile Processing Technician Practice Exam 2026 - Free Sterile Processing Technician Practice Questions and Study Guide

The term that encompasses the skull, hyoid, vertebral column, and thoracic cage is known as the axial skeleton. This component of the skeletal system serves critical functions in providing support and protection for the brain, spinal cord, and thoracic organs, as well as serving as an attachment point for muscles.

The axial skeleton specifically includes the central core of the body, whereas the appendicular skeleton refers to the limbs and the girdles that connect them to the axial skeleton. The muscular system, as the name suggests, pertains to the muscles of the body and their functions in movement, without directly describing the bony structures. Dermal skeleton is a term not commonly used in standard anatomical terminology and does not refer to this collection of bones.

Understanding the distinction between these terms is essential for grasping how the skeletal system is organized and functions to support the overall structure of the body.