endoskeleton

noun

Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₁n̥dóm Proto-Hellenic *éndon Ancient Greek ἔνδον (éndon)der. English endo- English skeleton English endoskeleton From endo- + skeleton.

1. The internal skeleton of an animal, which in vertebrates is composed of bone and cartilage.

   “This is the case not only with all forms provided with exoskeleta and endoskeleta, into the composition of which lime largely enters, but also with those which exercise the precipitating effect on the calcium salts they absorb from sea water, the precipitation rarely going so far as to form a distinct deposit in the cells or tissues of the organism.”

   “Endoskeleta have the advantage that they can be flexibly “restructured” when the situation demands.”