Skeletal Anatomy

dorsal

towards the back

proximal

part of limb/tail closest to the body

cranial

towards the head

what bones are in the front leg?

humerus, radius, and ulna

on average how many bones make up a dog’s skeleton?

319-321

what bones are in the back leg?

femur, tibia, and fibula

on average how many bones make up a cat’s skeleton?

230-250

rostral

portion of the head closest to the muzzle

what is part of the axial skeleton?

ribs, neck, sternum, spine, and skull

what is part of the appendicular skeleton?

pelvis, legs, feet, and scapula

caudal 

towards the rear

what is part of the visceral skeleton?

incus, stapes, and malleus

medial

towards the middle

how many sections make up the spine?

5

what bones make up an animals ankle joints?

tarsals

on average how many bones make up a cat’s tail?

20

what bones make up the wrist joint?

carpals

distal

part of limb/tail furthest from the body

plantar

bottom of back feet

what bones connect to wrist to the digits?

metacarpals

lateral

towards the sides

what do the ribs attach to in the front either directly or with cartilage?

the sternum

what are parts of the skeletal system?

appendicular, axial, and visceral

what is the patella?

the kneecap

ventral

towards the belly

how many pairs of ribs do animals have?

12

what bones connect the ankle to the digits?

metatarsals

palmar

bottom of the front feet

what kind of bone is the kneecap bone?

a sesamoid bone

what is the technical name for toes?

phalanges/digits

how many bones fuse together to make the pelvis?

3

what bones make up the pelvis?

pubis, illium, and ischium

what bones make up the upper jaw?

maxilla, nasal, and pre-maxilla

how many bones are in the inner ear?

3

what bone makes up the lower jaw?

the mandible

what is the name of the areas where the skull bones fuse together?

sutures

what is the name for the socket that holds the femoral head?

acetabulum

what skull bone Is located at the back of the skull, and feels like a bump?

occipital

what bone makes up the cheek bone?

the zygomatic arch

what is the technical name for the socket that holds the eye?

the orbit

what are the five sections that make up the spine?

cervical vertebrae, thoracic vertebrae, lumbar vertebrae, sacrum, and caudal vertebrae

how many bones make up each digit?

3 bones

what two bones fit together to make the elbow joint?

the ulna and humerus

what is the patella held in place with?

tendons, muscles, and ligaments, but mainly by the patellar tendon ligament

how many bones make up the skull?

30 bones

where does the spinal cord pass through?

the foramen magnum

what are the three sections of an animals ear?

outer ear, middle ear, and inner ear

cochlea

part of the inner ear where sound waves are converted into nerve impulses

vestibular

part of the inner ear that is associated with the sense of balance and has no role in hearing

where are three of the smallest bones in the body located?

the middle ear