Editing Skeleton (section)

=== Arthropods ===
{{Main|Arthropod exoskeleton}}

The skeletons of [[arthropod]]s, including [[insect]]s, [[crustacean]]s, and [[arachnid]]s, are cuticle exoskeletons. They are composed of [[chitin]] secreted by the [[epidermis]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Vincent |first=Julian F. V. |date=2002-10-01 |title=Arthropod cuticle: a natural composite shell system |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1359835X02001677 |journal=Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing |language=en |volume=33 |issue=10 |pages=1311–1315 |doi=10.1016/S1359-835X(02)00167-7 |issn=1359-835X}}</ref> The cuticle covers the animal's body and lines several internal organs, including parts of the digestive system. Arthropods molt as they grow through a process of [[ecdysis]], developing a new exoskeleton, digesting part of the previous skeleton, and leaving the [[Exuviae|remainder]] behind. An arthropod's skeleton serves many functions, working as an [[integument]] to provide a barrier and support the body, providing appendages for movement and defense, and assisting in sensory perception. Some arthropods, such as crustaceans, absorb biominerals like calcium carbonate from the environment to strengthen the cuticle.<ref name="Politi-2019">{{Citation |last1=Politi |first1=Yael |title=Mechanics of Arthropod Cuticle-Versatility by Structural and Compositional Variation |date=2019 |url=https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-11942-3_10 |work=Architectured Materials in Nature and Engineering: Archimats |pages=287–327 |editor-last=Estrin |editor-first=Yuri |place=Cham |publisher=Springer International Publishing |language=en |doi=10.1007/978-3-030-11942-3_10 |isbn=978-3-030-11942-3 |last2=Bar-On |first2=Benny |last3=Fabritius |first3=Helge-Otto |series=Springer Series in Materials Science |volume=282 |s2cid=109418804 |editor2-last=Bréchet |editor2-first=Yves |editor3-last=Dunlop |editor3-first=John |editor4-last=Fratzl |editor4-first=Peter}}</ref>