The appendicular skeleton comprises which of the following?

• A. Bones of the skull and spine
• B. Limbs and their girdles, including arms, legs, hands and feet
• C. Ribs and sternum
• D. Inner ear bones

Answer: (B)

The appendicular skeleton includes the limbs and the girdles that attach them to the body: the arms and legs, along with the bones of the hands, feet, and the shoulder (pectoral) girdle and hip (pelvic) girdle. This setup lets you move and manipulate objects with precision or walk and run, while the girdles provide the connection to the trunk.

This differs from the axial skeleton, which encompasses the skull, spine, and rib cage—the bones that form the central axis of the body. The other options describe parts of the axial skeleton (skull and spine; ribs and sternum; bones of the inner ear within the skull), not the limbs and their connecting girdles.