Surface Features of Bone

Articulating surfaces

• Condyle

• Facet

• Head

• Trochlea

Condyle

Large, smooth, rounded oval structure

Facet

Small, flat, shallow surface

Head

prominent, rounded epiphysis

Trochlea

smooth, grooved, pulley-like process

Depressions

• Alveolus

• Fossa

• Sulcus

Alveolus (alveoli)

deep pit or socket in the maxillae/mandible

Fossa

flattened or shallow depression

Sulcus

Narrow groove

projections for tendon/ligament attachment

• crest

• epicondyle

• line

• process

• ramus

• spine

• trochanter

• tubercle

• tuberosity

crest

narrow, prominent, ridgelike projection

epicondyle

projection adjacent to a condyle

line

low ridge

process

any marked bony prominence

ramus

angular extension of a bone relative to the rest of the structure

spine

pointed, slender process

trochanter

massive, rough projection found only in the femur

tubercle

small, round projection

tuberosity

large, rough projection

Openings & Spaces

• canal

• fissure

• foramen

• meatus

• sinus

canal

passageway through a bone

fissure

narrow, slitlike opening through a bone

foramen

rounded passageway through a bone

meatus

passageway through a bone

sinus

cavity or hollow space in bone