Axial Skeleton - Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering cranial and facial bones, sutures, fontanelles, hyoid bone, vertebral column, vertebral features, and the thoracic cage as described in the notes.

Frontal bone

A cranial bone forming the forehead; contains the supraorbital margin, supraorbital foramen/notch, and frontal sinus.

Supraorbital margin

The upper edge of the orbit, part of the frontal bone.

Supraorbital foramen

Opening in the frontal bone that transmits the supraorbital nerve and vessels.

Supraorbital notch

A notch in the supraorbital margin that can transmit vessels/nerve.

Frontal sinus

Air-filled cavity within the frontal bone.

Parietal bone

Bones forming the sides and roof of the cranium.

Temporal bone

Cranial bone forming the temple region; contains ear structures.

Temporal squama

The flat, vertical part of the temporal bone; forms part of the side of the skull.

Zygomatic process

Projection of the temporal bone that articulates with the zygomatic bone.

Zygomatic arch

The arch formed by the zygomatic process of the temporal bone and temporal process of the zygomatic bone.

Mandibular fossa

Depression on the temporal bone that articulates with the mandible (part of the TMJ).

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ)

Joint formed by the mandibular fossa of the temporal bone and the condylar process of the mandible.

Condylar process

Part of the mandible that articulates with the temporal bone at the TMJ.

Carotid canal

Opening in the temporal bone for the internal carotid artery.

Jugular foramen

Opening at the base of the skull for the internal jugular vein.

External auditory meatus

Also called the external acoustic meatus; canal for ear opening.

Mastoid process

Prominence of the temporal bone behind the ear; muscle attachment.

Styloid process

A slender projection of the temporal bone for ligament/muscle attachments.

Sphenoid bone

A complex cranial bone with greater and lesser wings and the sella turcica.

Greater wings

Large lateral projections of the sphenoid bone.

Lesser wings

Smaller projections of the sphenoid bone.

Sella turcica

A saddle-shaped area in the sphenoid that houses the pituitary gland.

Optic foramen

Opening in the sphenoid bone for the optic nerve.

Superior orbital fissure

Opening in the sphenoid between the greater and lesser wings for nerves of the orbit.

Foramen lacerum

Junctional opening between the temporal and sphenoid bones; transmits cartilage in life.

Ethmoid bone

A light, spongy bone between the eyes; contains several plates and conchae.

Perpendicular plate

Vertical plate forming part of the nasal septum.

Nasal septum

Partition dividing the nasal cavities; formed by the perpendicular plate and vomer.

Cribriform plate

Horizontal plate of the ethmoid with olfactory foramina.

Olfactory foramina

Openings in the cribriform plate for the olfactory nerves.

Crista galli

Vertical projection anchoring the falx cerebri in the ethmoid.

Superior nasal concha

Upper nasal turbinate of the ethmoid bone.

Middle nasal concha

Middle nasal turbinate of the ethmoid bone.

Inferior nasal concha

Lower nasal turbinate; a separate bone not part of the ethmoid.

Occipital bone

Bone forming the back and base of the skull; contains foramina and occipital condyles.

Foramen magnum

Large opening at the skull base for the brainstem.

External occipital protuberance

Prominent bump on the posterior skull where neck muscles attach.

Occipital condyles

Articulate with the atlas (C1) on the skull base.

Nasal bone

Small bone forming the bridge of the nose.

Maxilla (maxillary bone)

Upper jaw bone; contains alveolar processes and infraorbital foramen; forms part of the hard palate.

Alveolar process

Part of the maxilla that holds teeth (and is part of the mandible as well).

Infraorbital foramen

Opening below the orbit for infraorbital vessels and nerve.

Hard palate

Bony anterior part of the palate formed by maxillae and palatine bones.

Lacrimal bone

Small bone forming part of the medial wall of the orbit.

Zygomatic bone

Cheekbone; forms part of the orbit and the zygomatic arch.

Temporal process

Process of the zygomatic bone that articulates with the temporal bone.

Zygomatic arch

Architectural arch formed by the temporal and zygomatic bones.

Inferior nasal concha (nasal turbinate)

Lower nasal turbinate; one of the three turbinates.

Vomer

Plow-shaped bone forming part of the nasal septum.

Palatine bone

L-shaped bone forming part of the hard palate and the orbit.

Mandible

Lower jaw bone; houses teeth and features condylar and coronoid processes, ramus, body, and angle.

Condylar process

Posterior mandible projection that articulates with the temporal bone.

Coronoid process

Anterior mandible projection for muscle attachment.

Mandibular ramus

Ascending posterior part of the mandible.

Mandibular angle

Angle where the body and ramus meet.

Mandibular body

Horizontal anterior portion of the mandible.

Mental protuberance

The chin elevation on the mandible.

Mental foramen

Opening on the mandible for nerves and vessels.

Anterior fontanelle

Fontanelle located at the junction of the frontal and parietal bones.

Anterolateral fontanelle

Fontanelle on the side of the skull (sphenoid area).

Posterior fontanelle

Fontanelle at the junction of the occipital and parietal bones.

Posterolateral fontanelle

Fontanelle located laterally near the mastoid region.

Hyoid bone

U-shaped bone in the neck loosely floating; attachment for tongue and neck muscles.

Greater horn (of hyoid)

Larger posterior projection of the hyoid bone.

Lesser horn (of hyoid)

Smaller anterior projection of the hyoid bone.

Body (of hyoid)

Central portion of the hyoid bone.

Spinal curves

Primary and secondary curves of the vertebral column: cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral.

Cervical lordosis

Convex curvature of the cervical spine.

Thoracic kyphosis

Concave curvature of the thoracic spine.

Lumbar lordosis

Convex curvature of the lumbar spine.

Sacral kyphosis

Convex curvature of the sacral region.

Intervertebral foramen

Opening between adjacent vertebrae for spinal nerves.

Intervertebral disc

Cartilaginous disc between vertebral bodies providing cushioning.

Vertebral body

An anterior, cylindrical portion of a vertebra; supports weight.

Vertebral arch (neural arch)

Posterior part forming the vertebral foramen; includes pedicles and laminae.

Atlas (C1)

First cervical vertebra; supports skull; lacks a body; has lateral masses, anterior and posterior arches.

Axis (C2)

Second cervical vertebra; contains the dens (odontoid process) that acts as a pivot.

Dens (odontoid process)

Prominent peg-like projection on C2 that articulates with C1.

Vertebral foramen

Hole through which the spinal cord passes; triangular in cervical vertebrae.

Transverse foramen

Opening in cervical vertebrae for the vertebral artery and vein.

Spinous process (cervical, bifid)

Bifid projection at the posterior aspect of cervical vertebrae.

Lateral mass (atlas)

Mass on either side of C1 that supports the skull.

Anterior arch

Front arch of the atlas.

Posterior arch

Back arch of the atlas.

Atlanto-occipital joint

Joint between the atlas and the occipital bone (C1 and skull).

Atlanto-axial joint

Joint between the atlas (C1) and axis (C2) allowing rotation.

Spinous process (thoracic)

In thoracic vertebrae, long, slender process that points downward.

Pedicle

Short stalk connecting the vertebral body to the lamina.

Costal facet

Facet on thoracic vertebrae for rib articulation.

Spinous process (lumbar)

In lumbar vertebrae, thick, broad, and posterior projection.

Sacrum

Triangular bone formed by fusion of five sacral vertebrae.

Auricular surface

Smooth articular surface on the sacrum for the hip bone (sacroiliac joint).

Sacral foramina

Openings on the sacrum for nerves and blood vessels.

Median sacral crest

Fused spinous processes along the midline of the sacrum.

Sacroiliac joint

Joint between the sacrum and the hip bone (iliac part of coxal bone).

Coxal bone (os coxae, pelvic bone, innominate bone)

Hip bone; forms the pelvic girdle with the sacrum.

Hip bone

Another term for the coxal bone/os coxae/innominate bone.

Sacral canal

Continuation of the vertebral canal within the sacrum.

Sacral hiatus

Opening at the inferior end of the sacral canal.

Coccyx

Tailbone; small bone at the base of the spinal column.