The human skeleton consists of both fused and individual bones supported and supplemented by ligaments, tendons, muscles and cartilage.  It serves as a scaffold which supports organs, anchors muscles and protects organs such as the brain, lungs and heart.  The biggest bone in the body is the femur in the upper leg, and the smallest is the stapes bone in the middle ear.  In an adult, the skeleton comprises around 14% of the total body weight and half of this weight is water.