Axial Osteology Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering the axial osteology of the head, skull, vertebral column, and thoracic cage based on lecture notes.

Skull

The skeletal head structure composed of the neurocranium and viscerocranium, excluding the auditory ossicles and hyoid bone.

Bones of the Head

The 29 total bones in the head region, consisting of 22 skull bones, 6 auditory ossicles (3 pairs), and 1 hyoid bone.

Orbit

The bony cavity enclosing the eye, formed by seven bones: frontal, zygomatic, maxilla, lacrimal, ethmoid, palatine, and sphenoid.

Jugular Foramen

A large irregular space located between the occipital bone and temporal bone, not parented to a single bone.

Bony Palate

The roof of the mouth comprised of four bones: the two palatine processes of the maxillae and the two horizontal plates of the palatine bones.

Occipital Bone

The bone forming the posterior base of the skull, housing the foramen magnum, occipital condyles, and hypoglossal canals.

Temporal Bone

The cranial bone that contains the external and internal acoustic meatuses, mastoid process, styloid process, stylomastoid foramen, mandibular fossa, carotid canal, and zygomatic process.

Sphenoid Bone

A butterfly-shaped central cranial bone featuring greater and lesser wings, pterygoid processes (medial and lateral plates), sella turcica, optic canal, round foramen, and oval foramen.

Sella Turcica

A saddle-shaped depression on the superior surface of the sphenoid bone that houses the pituitary gland.

Ethmoid Bone

An anterior cranial bone containing the crista galli, cribriform foramina, and perpendicular plate.

Crista Galli

A vertical median projection of the ethmoid bone that serves as an attachment site for brain membranes.

Mandible

The lower jawbone, featuring the mental foramen, ramus, mandibular foramen, coronoid process, mandibular notch, and condyloid process.

Ramus of the Mandible

The vertical upward-projecting arm portion on each side of the mandible.

Mental Foramen

An opening on the anterior-lateral body of the mandible allowing passage for nerves and blood vessels.

Mandibular Fossa

A depression on the temporal bone that articulates with the condyloid process of the mandible.

Hyoid Bone

An extracranial head bone located superior to the larynx that has no direct joint articulations with other bones and serves purely for muscle attachment.

Auditory Ossicles

The six small bones of the middle ear (3 per ear: malleus, incus, and stapes) that are classified as bones of the head but not part of the skull.

Human Vertebral Formula

The structural designation of the human spine represented as $C7T12L5S5Cy4$.

Vertebral Foramen

The large canal opening in an individual vertebra bounded by the body and vertebral arch.

Vertebral Canal

The continuous tube formed collectively by the stacked vertebral foramina of multiple vertebrae to enclose the spinal cord.

Intervertebral Foramen

A lateral opening formed between adjacent vertebrae through which spinal nerves exit.

Atlas (C1)

The first cervical vertebra, lacking a body, which articulates with the occipital condyles to support the skull.

Axis (C2)

The second cervical vertebra, distinguished by a vertical upward projection called the dens.

Dens of the Axis

The tooth-like vertical process extending upward from the body of the axis ($C2$) that acts as a pivot point for skull rotation.

Transverse Foramen

An opening present in each transverse process of cervical vertebrae ($C1-C7$) for the passage of vertebral blood vessels.

Thoracic Vertebrae

The 12 vertebrae ($T1-T12$) characterized by costal facets/foveae for rib articulation and superior articular processes oriented in a coronal/frontal plane.

Lumbar Vertebrae

The 5 vertebrae ($L1-L5$) characterized by massive bodies and superior articular processes oriented in a sagittal plane.

Sacrum

The triangular bone formed by the fusion of five sacral vertebrae ($S1-S5$), featuring auricular surfaces, anterior foramina, and posterior foramina.

Coccyx

The terminal tailbone formed by the fusion of four coccygeal vertebrae ($Cy1-Cy4$).

Costal Groove

An interior-inferior groove running along the inner surface of a rib that houses nerves and blood vessels.

Sternum

The anterior thoracic breastbone consisting of the manubrium, body, xiphoid process, clavicular notches, and costal notches.

Manubrium of the Sternum

The superior, widest portion of the sternum that articulates with the clavicles and first pairs of ribs.

Xiphoid Process

The small, inferior cartilaginous or bony tip of the sternum.