Human skeleton »»

The human skeleton consists ofboth fused and individual bones supported and supplemented by ligaments , tendons , muscles and cartilage . It serves as a scaffold which supports organs, anchorsmuscles, and protects organs such as the brain , lungs and heart . [ citation needed ]
The biggest bone in the body is the femur in the thigh and the smallest is the stapes bone in the middle ear . Several factors contribute to the bone density and average mass of the human skeleton including; gender, race, hormonal factors, nutrition, physical activity and lifestyle behaviors.

[ 1 ] Because of these and other factors affecting an individual's weight the human skeleton may comprise between 12 and 20 percent of a person's total body weight with the average being 15 percent.

[ 2 ] Fused bones include those of the pelvis and the cranium . Not all bones are interconnected directly: there are three bones ineach middle ear called the ossicles that articulate only with each other. The hyoid bone , which is located in the neck and serves as the point of attachment for the tongue , does not articulate with any other bones in the body, being supported by muscles and ligaments.