The Skeletal System: The Axial Skeleton

Flashcards about the skeletal system and axial skeleton.

How do the bones of the axial skeleton contribute to homeostasis?

Protects many of the body’s organs, supports the storage and release of calcium

How many bones are in the Axial Skeleton?

80 bones

How many bones are in the Appendicular Skeleton?

126 bones

What does the Axial Skeleton consist of?

Skull bones, auditory ossicles, hyoid bone, ribs, sternum, vertebrae and sacrum

What does the Appendicular Skeleton consist of?

Bones of the upper and lower extremities and the bones forming the girdles that connect the limbs to the axial skeleton

What are the five main types of bones based on shape?

Long, short, flat, irregular, sesamoid

What is a fissure?

Narrow slit between bones for passage of blood vessels or nerves

What is a foramen?

Hole for passage of blood vessels, nerves or ligaments

What is a fossa?

Shallow depression

What is a sulcus?

Furrow on a bone for passage of blood vessel, nerve or tendon

What is a meatus?

Tubelike opening

What is a condyle?

Rounded projection with a smooth articular surface

What is a facet?

Smooth, flat, slightly concave articular surface

What is a head?

Usually rounded articular process supported on a neck

What is a crest?

Prominent ridge or elongated process

What is a epicondyle?

Usually roughened projection on a condyle

What is a line?

Long, narrow ridge or border (less prominent than a crest)

What is a spinous process?

Sharp, slender projection

What is a trochanter?

Very large projection found only on the femur

What is a tubercle?

Variably sized rounded projection

What is a tuberosity?

Variably sized projection with rough, bumpy surface

How many cranial bones are there?

8

How many facial bones are there?

14

What are the cranial bones?

Frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital, sphenoid, ethmoid

What are the facial bones?

Zygomatic, maxilla, nasal, palatine, lacrimal, inferior nasal conchae, mandible, vomer

What is the function of the hyoid bone?

Supports the tongue and provides an attachment site for some muscles of the neck and pharynx

How many vertebrae are in the vertebral column?

26

What is the function of the vertebral column?

Protects the spinal cord

What are the 5 regions of the vertebral column?

Cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacrum, coccyx

What is the function of intervertebral discs?

Absorb shock and separate vertebrae from one another

What is the function of thoracic vertebrae?

Support ribs and have special structures for rib head and tubercle attachment

What is unique about the lumbar vertebrae?

Largest and strongest vertebrae

What are the sacrum and coccyx?

Sacrum is part of the pelvic girdle composed of 5 fused vertebrae, Coccyx is composed of 4 fused vertebrae

What bones compose the thoracic cage?

Sternum, ribs, costal cartilages

What are the three segments of the sternum?

Upper manubrium, middle body, lower xiphoid process

What are true ribs?

First 7 pairs; their cartilage is directly connected to sternum

What are false ribs?

Next 5 pairs; cartilage is indirectly connected to the sternum

What are floating ribs?

Last 2 pairs; these are not connected to the sternum

What is scoliosis?

Increased lateral curvature

What is kyphosis?

Increased thoracic curve—bent forward

What is lordosis?

Increased lumbar curve—bent backwards