Chapters 7 & 8: Axial & Appendicular Skeleton

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering the bones, structures, and clinical applications of the axial and appendicular skeleton based on lecture chapters 7 & 8.

Axial Skeleton

A division of the skeletal system consisting of $80$ bones, including the skull, hyoid, auditory ossicles, vertebral column, and thorax.

Appendicular Skeleton

A division of the skeletal system consisting of $126$ bones, including the pectoral girdles, upper limbs, pelvic girdle, and lower limbs.

Sutures

Immovable joints that fuse most of the skull bones together.

Frontal Bone

The cranial bone that forms the forehead.

Parietal Bones

Two cranial bones that form the sides and roof of the cranial cavity.

Temporal Bones

Two cranial bones that form the lateral aspects and floor of the cranium.

Occipital Bone

The cranial bone that forms the posterior part and most of the base of the cranium.

Sphenoid Bone

A cranial bone located at the middle part of the base of the skull, containing the Sella Turcica.

Ethmoid Bone

A cranial bone on the midline in the anterior part of the cranial floor, containing conchae which help humidify inhaled air.

Maxillae

Two facial bones that form the upper jawbone and most of the hard palate, separating the nasal cavity from the oral cavity.

Zygomatic Bones

Also known as cheekbones, these facial bones form the prominences of the cheeks and part of the orbit.

Mandible

The lower jawbone; it is the only movable skull bone and the largest, strongest facial bone.

Nasal Septum

The structure that divides the nasal cavity into right and left sides.

Paranasal sinuses

Cavities within cranial and facial bones near the nasal cavity that act as resonating chambers and lighten the skull bones.

Fontanels

Areas of unossified tissue, commonly called 'soft spots,' that link cranial bones at birth and provide flexibility to the fetal skull.

Hyoid Bone

A bone that does not articulate directly with any other bone and serves as a movable base for the tongue.

Vertebral Column

Also called the spine or backbone, it protects the spinal cord and supports the head, consisting of $26$ vertebrae in an adult.

Intervertebral discs

Fibrocartilage structures found between the bodies of adjacent vertebrae that absorb vertical shock.

Atlas

The first cervical vertebra ($C1$).

Axis

The second cervical vertebra ($C2$).

Sternum

Commonly known as the 'breastbone,' it is located in the center of the thoracic wall and consists of the manubrium, body, and xiphoid process.

Clavicle

Also known as the collarbone, it is an 'S' shaped bone that is weakest at the junction of its two curves.

Scapula

Also known as the shoulder blade, it is a triangular bone that articulates with the humerus.

Humerus

The longest and largest bone of the upper limb.

Ulna

The forearm bone located on the medial (pinky) side, which is the longer of the two forearm bones.

Radius

The forearm bone located on the lateral (thumb) side.

Carpals

The $8$ small bones that make up the carpus (wrist).

Metacarpals

The $5$ bones that make up the palm (metacarpus).

Ischial tuberosities

The parts of the hip bones that you sit on.

Femur

The longest, heaviest, and strongest bone in the body, located in the thigh.

Patella

The largest sesamoid bone, commonly known as the kneecap.

Tibia

The larger, medial weight-bearing bone of the leg, also known as the shin bone.

Fibula

The smaller, lateral bone of the leg that is non-weight bearing.

Tarsals

The $7$ bones of the ankle, including the talus (ankle bone) and calcaneus (heel bone).

Phalanges

The bones of the fingers or toes; there are $14$ in each limb.

Scoliosis

An abnormal spinal curvature characterized by a lateral curvature of the spine.

Kyphosis

An abnormal spinal curvature described as an exaggerated thoracic curvature, often called 'hunchback.'

Lordosis

An abnormal spinal curvature described as an exaggerated lumbar curvature, often called 'swayback.'

Spina bifida

A congenital defect where the spinous process fails to form properly, potentially leaving the spinal cord unprotected.