The skull, ribs, and spine are part of the axial skeleton.
Bones form armor that protects most of our vital organs. These include the brain, spinal cord, heart, and lungs. Each part of the body is protected differently.
The skull forms a helmet around the brain. Vertebrae surround the spinal cord, like beads on a string. Think of the string as the spinal cord. The beads are the vertebrae. Ribs are like flexible bands: they protect against impact but also expand and contract as you breathe.
