We'll start by looking at the most obvious part of the musculoskeletal system, the bones

The adult human skeleton consists of a remarkable 206 bones.

Bone is a living tissue with a rich blood and nerve supply.

It contains much crystalline inorganic material (mainly calcium salts). This material makes bone hard and rigid. (People, such as the elderly, with a shortage of calcium in their bodies are more likely to suffer from fractures.)

However, about one third of its substance is fibrous tissue. This makes bone tough and elastic.