The Axial Skeleton

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and definitions related to the axial skeleton.

Axial Skeleton

The central vertical axis of the body, including the skull, vertebral column, and thoracic cage.

Cranial Bones

The 8 bones that enclose the brain.

Facial Bones

The 14 bones that form the face and support the entrances to the digestive and respiratory tracts.

Vertebral Column

The spine, consisting of individual vertebrae, sacrum, and coccyx.

Thoracic Cage

The bony structure made up of the ribs and sternum that protects the heart and lungs.

Suture

Immovable fibrous joints that tightly bind the cranial bones together.

Hyoid Bone

A bone in the neck that supports the tongue and does not articulate with any other bone.

Intervertebral Discs

Cushions located between adjacent vertebrae that absorb shock and allow slight movement.

Foramen Magnum

The large hole at the base of the skull that allows the spinal cord to pass through.

Costal Cartilage

Hyaline cartilage that connects the ribs to the sternum, allowing flexibility.

Atlas (C1)

The first cervical vertebra that supports the skull and allows nodding motion.

Axis (C2)

The second cervical vertebra with a dens that allows the head to rotate.

True Ribs

The 7 pairs of ribs that attach directly to the sternum.

False Ribs

The 5 pairs of ribs that attach indirectly to the sternum via cartilage.

Floating Ribs

The 2 pairs of false ribs that are not attached to the sternum.

Fontanelles

Soft spots in an infant's skull that allow for growth and passage during birth.