Which component of the skeletal system includes the shoulder girdle and limbs?

• A. Axial Skeleton
• B. Appendicular Skeleton
• C. Medullary Cavity
• D. Compact Bone

Answer: (B)

The shoulder girdle and limbs are part of the appendicular skeleton. The skeleton is organized into two main parts: the axial skeleton, which includes the skull, vertebral column, and rib cage, and the appendicular skeleton, which encompasses the shoulder girdles and the limbs (arms and legs) plus their attachments to the axial skeleton. This arrangement emphasizes movement and leverage, with the limbs providing the primary means of interaction with the environment. Features like the medullary cavity and compact bone describe internal bone structure or tissue, not a regional division of the skeleton, so they don’t describe the group that includes the girdles and limbs.