Given below are two statements. One is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as reason (R).

Assertion (A) : Skull and vertebral column are parts of axial skeleton.

Reason (R) : They lie along the main axis of the body.

In the light of the given statements, choose the correct answer from the options given. 

Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).

The cranium protects the brain, the rib cage protects the heart, and the vertebral column protects the spinal cord.

The cranium, rib cage, and vertebral column bones lie in the central axis of the body. These bones indeed form the central axis, providing structural support and protection for the vital organs located within this axis. The axial skeleton comprises bones distributed along the main axis of the body.