BIO201 - Skeletal Unit: Bone Identification

Vocabulary flashcards covering bone identification, structural features, axial and appendicular skeletal divisions, and anatomical terminology for BIO201.

Articulation

The point where two bones meet, forming a joint or structure.

Superior

Directional term meaning above; typically used for the axial skeleton.

Inferior

Directional term meaning below; typically used for the axial skeleton.

Proximal

Directional term meaning closer to the point of attachment; typically used for the appendicular skeleton.

Distal

Directional term meaning farther away from the point of attachment; typically used for the appendicular skeleton.

Epicondyle

An extended region found "above" (epi-) a condyle.

Crest

A narrow ridge on a bone.

Facet

A smooth, flat concave or convex surface that articulates with another bone.

Foramen

A hole through a bone, typically round.

Fossa

A shallow basin in a bone.

Head

A prominent end of a bone, usually round, proximal, and found in a joint.

Process

Any bony prominence.

Protuberance

A bony outgrowth or protruding part.

Sinus

An air-filled space housed within a bone.

Spine (Bone Feature)

A sharp, slender process on a bone.

Ramus

A branch or arm-like extension of a bone.

Trochanter

Two large prominences found exclusively on the femur.

Tubercle

A small, usually rounded, nodule on a bone.

Axial Skeleton

The skeletal region that includes the skull, hyoid, thoracic cage, and vertebrae (pictured in beige).

Appendicular Skeleton

The skeletal region that includes the pectoral girdle, pelvic girdle, upper limbs, and lower limbs (pictured in green).

Cranial Bones

The 8 bones (frontal, sphenoid, ethmoid, occipital, 2 parietal, 2 temporal) that encase and protect the brain.

Facial Bones

The 14 bones that structure the face and form the nasal, oral, and orbital cavities.

Suture

An immovable joint where bones of the skull are fused together.

Coronal Suture

The skull suture that connects the frontal bone with the parietal bones.

Sagittal Suture

The skull suture that connects the two parietal bones along the sagittal plane.

Lambdoid Suture

The skull suture that connects the parietal bones to the occipital bone.

Squamous Suture

The skull suture that connects the temporal bones to the parietal bones.

Hyoid Bone

A bone located inferior to the mandible and superior to the larynx that provides attachment points for neck muscles; it is the only bone in the body not articulated with any other bone.

Thoracic Cage

The skeletal structure comprised of the sternum and 12 pairs of ribs (numbered 1-12) that protects thoracic and abdominal viscera and serves as an attachment for the diaphragm.

Sternum

The "breastbone", a protective flat bone at the anterior/middle of the chest that anchors ribs anteriorly and consists of the manubrium, body, and xiphoid process.

True Ribs

Ribs 1-7, which connect directly to the sternum by costal cartilage.

False Ribs

Ribs 8-12, which are not directly connected to the sternum.

Floating Ribs

Ribs 11-12, false ribs that do not connect to the sternum at all.

Atlas (C1)

The first cervical vertebra, which connects to the occipital bone of the skull.

Axis (C2)

The second cervical vertebra, which connects C1 to C3.

Cervical Vertebrae

The 7 vertebrae (C1-C7) located in the neck region.

Thoracic Vertebrae

The 12 vertebrae (T1-T12) that articulate with the 12 thoracic ribs.

Lumbar Vertebrae

The 5 weight-bearing vertebrae (L1-L5) characterized by a larger body.

Sacrum

A bone formed by 5 fused vertebrae (S1-S5) that connects to the os coxa and is fully fused by late adolescence.

Coccyx

The "tailbone", formed by 4 fused vertebrae (Co1-Co4) and fully fused by a person's 20s.

Pectoral Girdle

The set of bones (clavicle and scapula) that helps form the shoulder joint.

Clavicle

The "collar bone", positioned superior to the sternum and articulating laterally with the scapula.

Scapula

The "shoulder blade", located posterior to the ribs.

Humerus

The long bone of the brachial region that articulates with the scapula at the shoulder and the radius and ulna at the elbow.

Radius

The forearm bone of the antebrachial region located on the lateral side in anatomical position.

Ulna

The forearm bone of the antebrachial region located on the medial side in anatomical position.

Interosseous Membrane

The membrane connecting the radius and ulna in the upper limb, as well as the tibia and fibula in the lower limb.

Carpals

The 8 wrist bones arranged in two rows of four (scaphoid, lunate, triquetrum, pisiform, trapezium, trapezoid, capitate, hamate).

Metacarpals

The 5 hand bones located "beyond the carpals", labeled with Roman numerals I through V.

Pollex

Digit I (the thumb), which consists of only two phalanges: proximal phalanx I and distal phalanx I.

Phalanges

The individual bones comprising the digits of the hands and feet.

Pelvic Girdle

The bones (os coxae, sacrum, and coccyx) that support body weight, contain pelvic viscera, and form the hip joints.

Os Coxa

A single "hip bone" (plural os coxae) comprised of three fused bones: the ilium, ischium, and pubis.

Ilium

The bone of the os coxa with a wide crest, palpable at the hip.

Ischium

The posterior and inferior portion of the os coxa, palpable at the buttocks.

Pubis

The anterior portion of the os coxa featuring a crest palpable at the pubic region.

Femur

The long bone of the femoral region that articulates with the os coxa at the hip joint and with the patella, tibia, and fibula at the knee joint.

Patella

The "knee cap", a sesamoid bone in the patellar region that articulates with the femur anteriorly to serve as a fulcrum for leg extension.

Tibia

The lower leg bone located on the anterior and medial side.

Fibula

The lower leg bone located on the lateral side, which is difficult to palpate.

Tarsals

The 7 ankle bones: talus, calcaneus, navicular, medial cuneiform, intermediate cuneiform, lateral cuneiform, and cuboid.

Calcaneus

The heel bone, located inferior and distal to the talus.

Talus

The most proximal tarsal bone in the ankle.

Metatarsals

The 5 foot bones located "beyond the tarsals", labeled with Roman numerals I through V.

Hallux

Digit I of the foot (big toe), containing two phalanges: proximal phalanx I and distal phalanx I.