title: Skeletal system: part four--the appendicular skeleton.
abstract: The final article of this four-part series explores the appendicular skeleton. The term 'appendicular skeleton' derives from the Latin word appendic--to hang on. The appendicular skeleton consists of the four limbs and the pectoral (shoulder) and pelvic girdles, which connect them to the axial skeleton (see part 3 of this series; Docherty, 2007). It has a total of 126 bones.
authors.affiliation: South Eastern Sydney and Illawarra Area Health Service, Australia.
authors.forename: Brendan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Docherty
mesh_terms: D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D007867:Leg Bones / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D011630:Pubic Bone / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D013131:Spine / Q000033:anatomy & histology