Osteology Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering bone functions, skeleton divisions, bone shape classifications, gross bone structures, long bone components, and bone cell types based on ANAT 2300/3300 Unit 1 notes.

Hematopoiesis

The process of blood cell formation that takes place within bone marrow.

Axial Skeleton

The division of the skeleton consisting of 80 bones around the central axis (head and trunk), which supports standing upright and protects internal organs.

Appendicular Skeleton

The division of the skeleton consisting of 126 bones that support the limbs and appendages, used primarily in movement.

Long Bone

Bones that are longer than they are wide, such as the femur, humerus, and metacarpals.

Short Bone

Bones that are approximately cubed in shape, such as carpals and tarsals.

Flat Bone

Bones that are thin, flattened plates, such as the sternum, ribs, and some skull bones.

Irregular Bone

Bones that have a complicated shape, such as vertebrae and hip bones.

Sesamoid Bone

Bones that are embedded within a tendon, such as the patella.

Compact Bone

Dense tissue forming the outer wall of bones, comprised of functional units called osteons.

Spongy Bone

Internal bone tissue that forms a mesh-like network of bony spicules called trabeculae with spaces filled with bone marrow.

Trabeculae

A mesh-like network of bony spicules that make up spongy bone.

Osteon

The structural and functional unit of compact bone.

Epiphysis

The proximal and distal ends of a long bone, composed of an outer layer of compact bone and an inner core of spongy bone.

Diaphysis

The shaft of a long bone located between the epiphyses, composed of compact bone surrounding a medullary cavity.

Epiphyseal Plate

A region of hyaline cartilage located between the diaphysis and epiphysis in growing individuals.

Epiphyseal Line

The remnant bone tissue located between the diaphysis and epiphysis in adult long bones.

Articular Cartilage

Hyaline cartilage that covers the joint surface of the epiphysis where bones articulate.

Medullary Cavity

The inner cavity of a long bone shaft filled with red bone marrow for hematopoiesis or yellow bone marrow for triglyceride storage.

Periosteum

An external double layer of connective tissue covering bone that serves as an attachment site for muscle tendons.

Endosteum

An internal layer of connective tissue that lines the medullary cavity and covers the trabeculae of spongy bone.

Diploë

The layer of spongy bone found between the outer and inner layers of compact bone in short, flat, irregular, and sesamoid bones.

Osteoblasts

Bone tissue cells responsible for building new bone and forming bone matrix.

Osteoclasts

Bone tissue cells responsible for consuming and resorbing bone tissue.

Osteocytes

Mature bone tissue cells responsible for maintaining bone tissue.