Bones of Axial Skeleton Practical Terms

Cranium

 the part of the skull that encloses the brain

Cranial Sutures

Joints made of strong, fibrous tissue hold the bones of your skull together.

Frontal bone

forms the anterior and superior portions of the skull.

Supraorbital foramen

a path for vessels and nerves from the orbit to the superficial region of
the forehead.

Parietal Bone

form the sides and roof of the cranium

occipital bone

major part of the posterior wall and base of the skull

foramen magnum

a passage of the central nervous system through the skull connecting the brain with the spinal cord

occipital condyles

articulate with the superior articular facets of the atlas (C1 vertebrae) and form a hinge joint allowing flexion and extension of the head

temporal bones

(x2) forms lower lateral walls of the skull

mastoid process

bony projection at the base of the temporal bones on each side of
the skull that serves as an attachment point for several head and neck
muscles.

external auditory meatus

channels sound to the inner ear, found in the temporal bone

mandibular fossa

oval depression that receives condyle of the mandible → founding n the temporal bones

carotid foramen

allows carotid to pass into the cranium and supple the brain (found in temporal bones)

jugular foramen

transmits jugular veins from brain to heart and cranial nerves

articular tubercle

forms anterior boundary of mandibular fossa (on temporal bones)

styloid process

erves as an anchor point for several muscles associated with the
tongue and larynx; facilitates the movement of the tongue, pharynx,
larynx, hyoid bone, and mandible (found on temporal bones)

sphenoid bone

forms the base of the cranium, behind the eye and below the front part of the brain

sella turcica

holds and protects the pituitary gland (on sphenoid bone)

pterygoid process

allows the jaw to move in a horizontal direction during chewing (on sphenoid bone)

foramen lacerum

allows for passage of facial and sensory nerves (on sphenoid bone)

foramen ovale

transmits the mandibular nerve (found on sphenoid bone)

foramen spniosum

contains arteries, veins and nerves serving the brain (found on sphenoid bone)

ethmoid bone

a small, cube-shaped bone in the center of the skull that helps form the eye sockets, nasal cavity, and sinuses

crista galli

a vertical, wedge-shaped process that projects from the superior
surface of the ethmoid bone; separates the olfactory bulbs (found on ethmoid bone)

cribriform plate

a thin, horizontal bone plate that forms the roof of the nasal
cavity and separates the bran from the nasal cavity (found on ethmoid bone)

perpendicular plate

projects from inferior surface of ethmoid bone; forms
superior half of the nasal septum (found on ethmoid bone)

facial bones

bones that make up the face and are located between the cranium and the mandible

maxilla

bones that form the upper jaw, the roof of the mouth, and parts of the eye socket and nose

superior alveolar process

the thick, curved ridge of bone that forms the socket for

the upper teeth

infraorbital foramen

small holes in the maxilla, located below the eye socket and to

the left and right of the nose

frontal process

thin, long, superior projection found along the side of the nose

forming part of its lateral boundary

anterior nasal spine

projects anteriorly in the midline, inferior to nasal cavity (found on maxilla)

lacrimal bones

two small bones of the maxilla are roughly the size of the little fingernail and situated at the anterior portion of the medial wall of each orbit.

lacrimal fossa

opening in the lacrimal bone that provides drainage for the lacrimal

gland (produce tears)

nasal bones

a pair of bony plates that form the left and right bridge of the nose

vomer

bone forming inferior half of the nasal septum

zygomatic bones

bridge of bone extending from the temporal bone at the side of the head around to the maxilla (upper jawbone) in front

zygomatic arch

bridge of bone extending from the temporal bone at the side of the

head around to the maxilla (upper jawbone) in front

palatine bones

form the rear of the hard palate  and part of the wall and floor of the nasal

cavity.

mandible

lower jawbone

inferior alveolar process

the thick, curved ridge of bone that forms the socket for

the lower teeth

mental foramen

an opening in the mandible that allows the mental nerve to exit and

enervate the lower lip, cheeks, chin

mental protuberance

bony protrusion in the front of the lower jaw that forms the chin

condylar process

 the process on the mandible that ends in a condyle that

articulates with the temporal bone at the mandibular fossa (TMJ)

mandibular notch

a U-shaped groove in the mandible found  between the coronoid

process anteriorly and the condylar process posteriorly

incisive foramen/canals

an opening in the hard palate that allows nerves

and blood vessels to pass between the nasal and oral cavities

coronoid process

a triangular projection on the mandible that provides an

attachment point for the muscles used for chewing

vertebral column

a column of several vertebrae (24 total), stacked on top of each other from the bottom of the skull to the pelvis; protects the spinal cord and supports the body's weight

cervical vertebrae

7 vertebrae found at the top of the vertebral column

thoracic vertebrae

12 vertebrae found in mid-section of the vertebral column

lumbar vertebrae

5 vertebrae found at the base of the vertebral column

sacrum

a large, triangular bone that forms the base of the spine and the back wall of the pelvis; strengthens and stabilizes the pelvis

coccyx

 final segment of the vertebral column, composed of 3-5 fused vertebrae; supports your weight and helps you keep your balance when you're sitting down

vertebrae

one of the series of irregular shaped bones that makes up the vertebral column

articulating processes

bony projections that connect vertebrae together, forming

joints that help stabilize the spine

spinous/dorsal process

extends backward from the body of the vertebra; attaches

to muscles and ligaments, which support and move the vertebral column 

transverse process

wing-like projections of bone extending laterally from each

side ofthe vertebrae body that allow back muscles and ligaments to attach to the vertebral column

intervertebral foramen

opening between adjacent vertebrae that allows spinal

nerves and blood vessels to pass through laterally

vertebral foramen

opening between adjacent vertebrae that allows spinal

nerves and blood vessels to pass through

vertebrae body

the large rounded portion of each vertebrae

intervertebral disc

a cushion of fibrocartilage between two vertebrae in the spinal

column.