Vertebrate Skeleton

Flashcards about the vertebrate skeleton.

Cartilage

An avascular, soft & flexible connective tissue.

Bone

A hard, strong, lightweight living connective tissue.

Axial skeleton

Basic framework of skeleton that includes the skull, vertebral column, and rib cage.

Appendicular skeleton

Bones of appendages, pectoral & pelvic girdle (everything other than axial skeleton)

Sutures

Immoveable joints that hold together bones of the skull.

Foramen

An opening in the bone that allows for the passage of nerves.

Origin

Point of attachment of muscle to stationary bone.

Insertion

Point of attachment of muscle to bone that moves.

Flexion

Bending of joint.

Extension

Straightening of joint.

Ligaments

Bone to bone connectors that strengthen joints.

Osteoprogenitor/osteogenic

Cells part of the mesenchymal stem cell lineage that differentiate into osteoblasts.

Osteocytes

Exchange nutrients & waste material with blood, help regulate bone mass

Osteoblasts

Secrete collagen & form organic compounds for bone formation, differentiate into osteocytes & incapable of mitosis.

Osteoclasts

Resorb (break down) bone matrix & release minerals (e.g. Ca2+) into blood, multi-nucleated cells derived from monocytes.

Tendons

Dense connective tissue that connect muscle to bone and allows for movement.

Long bone

Typically, a long shaft (diaphysis) & two ends, each has a metaphysis & epiphysis

Osteon

Functional unit of compact bone; includes lamellae + Haversian canals

Lacunae

Osteocytes trapped b/w lamellae reside here & exchange nutrients via small canals (canaliculi)

Medullary cavity

Hollow part of bone surrounded by compact bone, contains yellow bone marrow (fat) and red bone marrow (the site of hemopoiesis or red blood cell development)

Fibrous

Connects bones via dense connective tissue without allowing any movement, e.g., Between bones of the skull.

Epiphyseal plate

A sheet of cartilage found between the metaphysis & epiphysis, location in which vertical bone growth occurs in the cartilage until being replaced by bone in adulthood.

Compact bone

Very organized, dense bone

Volkmann’s canals

Connects blood vessels, & lymph vessels contained in Haversian canal

Spongy/cancellous bone

Less dense consisting of an interconnecting lattice of bony spicules called trabeculae, spaces are filled with red bone marrow.

Cartilaginous

Bones are attached together by cartilage & allow for little movement, includes the spine & ribs.

Lamellae

Concentric rings of compact bone that form the Haversian canals

Haversian canals

Passageway for nerves, blood & lymph vessels

Synovial (most common type of joint)

Allows for movement and is filled with synovial fluid that acts as a lubricant