Endoskeleton

In biology, the endoskeleton (also called the inner skeleton ) is a mechanical support structure ( skeleton ) that is not part of the outer shell of the organism. It is one of the most noticeable common characteristics of the vertebrate animals (vertebrata).

An endoskeleton consists of solid elements (so-called hard parts) that can be moved against each other via muscles . In humans, like most groups of vertebrates, these elements are made up of calcium phosphate and collagen and are known as bones . Other important building blocks of the vertebrate endoskeleton are the cartilage , which usually does not contain any mineral substance. In cartilaginous fish , the entire endoskeleton is made up of cartilage, which can be solidified by the storage of calcium carbonate .

The skeleton of the echinoderma , whose hard parts consist entirely of calcium carbonate, does not form part of the body surface like the shells of snails and mussels, but lies beneath a thin epidermis and is therefore also an endoskeleton.

See also

• Exoskeleton
• Hydroskeleton

Web links

Wiktionary: Endoskeleton  - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations

Individual evidence

1. ^ Gerhard Mickoleit: Phylogenetic systematics of vertebrates . F. Pfeil, 2004, ISBN 978-3-89937-044-7 , pp. 44 .
2. ^ Charles F. Lytle, John R. Meyer: Practical course in general zoology . Pearson Germany, 2010, ISBN 978-3-86894-035-0 , pp. 274 .