Animals: skeleton & muscles

Understanding how skeletons and muscles support, protect and enable movement

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Try each question. If you're stuck, leave it and come back. The answer key is on the last page.

1
Label the bones on this human skeleton.
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2
What is the main job of the skull? A) To protect the brain B) To help you move C) To produce blood cells D) To help you breathe
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3
True or false? Muscles can push and pull bones to make us move. A) True B) False
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4
Match each bone to what it protects. Match each item on the left to one on the right. Left: Skull, Ribs, Spine, Pelvis Right: Brain, Heart and lungs, Spinal cord, Lower organs
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5
What are the three main functions of the skeleton? A) Support, protection and movement B) Breathing, eating and sleeping C) Growing, thinking and feeling D) Running, jumping and swimming
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6
True or false? An earthworm has a skeleton inside its body just like humans. A) True B) False
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7
Why do muscles work in pairs? A) Because muscles can only pull, not push, so one pulls while the other relaxes B) Because one muscle gets tired and the other takes over C) Because muscles can push and pull equally D) Because two muscles are stronger than one
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8
A snail has a shell but no bones. Why is the shell important? A) It protects the snail's soft body from predators and damage B) It helps the snail move faster C) It helps the snail breathe D) It stores the snail's food
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9
Label the muscles used when bending and straightening the arm.
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10
Label these key bones on the skeleton.
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Answer key

Animals: skeleton & muscles · for parents and teachers

1
skull: skull; ribs: ribs; spine: spine; pelvis: pelvis
The skull protects the brain, ribs protect the heart and lungs, the spine supports the body, and the pelvis supports the upper body.
2
To protect the brain
The skull is a hard bone that protects the brain from damage. It acts like a helmet for our most important organ.
3
True
True. Muscles are attached to bones and they contract (pull) to move our skeleton. They work in pairs to create movement.
4
Skull → Brain; Ribs → Heart and lungs; Spine → Spinal cord; Pelvis → Lower organs
Our skeleton protects our vital organs: skull protects the brain, ribs protect heart and lungs, spine protects the spinal cord, pelvis protects lower organs.
5
Support, protection and movement
The skeleton has three main jobs: it supports the body (keeps us upright), protects vital organs, and allows movement (when muscles pull on bones).
6
False
False. Earthworms are invertebrates - they have no skeleton. They move using muscles that squeeze their soft body. Only vertebrates have internal skeletons.
7
Because muscles can only pull, not push, so one pulls while the other relaxes
Muscles can only pull (contract). To move a joint both ways, you need one muscle to pull in each direction. For example, the bicep bends your arm and the tricep straightens it.
8
It protects the snail's soft body from predators and damage
The shell acts like an exoskeleton, providing protection for the snail's soft body. It serves the same purpose as our skull protecting our brain.
9
bicep: bicep; tricep: tricep; elbow-joint: elbow joint
The bicep contracts to bend the arm, while the tricep contracts to straighten it. They work as an antagonistic pair around the elbow joint.
10
skull: skull; ribs: ribs; spine: spine; femur: femur
The skull, ribs, spine and femur are major bones with important roles in protection and support.