Human Skeletal System

Flashcards for key vocabulary terms related to the human skeletal system.

Skeletal System

Consists of cartilage and bone.

Cartilage

An avascular form of connective tissue consisting of extracellular fibers embedded in a matrix.

Bone

A calcified, living connective tissue that forms the majority of the skeleton.

Osteocytes

Mature bone cells

Osteoclasts

Bone resorptive cells

Osteoblasts

Bone forming cells

Compact Bone

One of the two types of bones.

Spongy Bone

One of the two types of bones.

Long Bones

Example: Humerus in upper limb, Femur in lower limb

Short Bones

Example: Bones of the wrist and ankle

Flat Bones

Example: Bones of the cranium

Irregular Bones

Example: Vertebrae

Sesamoid Bones

Round or oval bones that develop in tendons. Example: Patella

Intramembranous Ossification

Example: Bones of the skull

Endochondral Ossification

Example: Most of the bones in the skeleton, femur, humerus, etc.

Axial Skeleton

80 bones; includes the skull, vertebral column, and thoracic cage.

Appendicular Skeleton

126 bones; includes the pectoral girdle, upper extremity, pelvic girdle, and lower extremity.

Neurocranium

Part of the skull; includes the Parietal, Temporal, Frontal, Occipital, Ethmoid, and Sphenoid bones.

Viscerocranium

Part of the skull; includes the Maxilla, Zygomatic, Mandible, Nasal, Platine, Inferior nasal concha, and Vomer bones.

Auditory Ossicles

Includes the Malleus, Incus, and Stapes.

Cervical Vertebrae

7 vertebrae in the neck region.

Thoracic Vertebrae

12 vertebrae in the chest region.

Lumbar Vertebrae

5 vertebrae in the lower back region.

Sacrum

A single bone formed by the fusion of 5 sacral vertebrae.

Coccyx

A single bone formed by the fusion of coccygeal vertebrae.

Pectoral Girdle

Includes the clavicle and scapula.

Pelvic Girdle

Includes the ilium, ischium, and pubis.

Upper Extremity

Includes the humerus, radius, ulna, carpals, metacarpals, and phalanges.

Lower Extremity

Includes the femur, tibia, fibula, patella, tarsals, metatarsals, and phalanges.

Synarthroses

Immovable joints, e.g., skull bones.

Amphiarthroses

Slightly movable joints, e.g., vertebrae of spine.

Diarthroses

Freely movable joints, also known as synovial joints, e.g., knee and shoulder joints.

Synovial Joints

Include ball and socket, hinge, condyloid, pivot, and gliding joints.