Introduction to Anatomy: The Skeletal System

Vocabulary flashcards covering core bone types, skeletal regions, and named bones from the Skeletal System lecture notes.

Long bone

Bones that are longer than they are wide; examples include the humerus (upper limb) and femur (lower limb)

Short bone

Bones that are as wide as they are long; example: carpal bones in the hands

Irregular bone

Bones with complex, irregular shapes; example: spinal vertebrae

Flat bone

Bones that are flat and light; example: rib bones

Sesamoid bone

Bones that are flat, small, and round; example: patella (kneecap)

Axial skeleton

Includes the skull, vertebrae, sternum, and ribs

Appendicular skeleton

Includes bones of the upper and lower limbs, scapula, clavicles, and hip bones

Frontal bone

Forehead bone; forms part of the skull and eye sockets

Parietal bone

Side/top skull bone; contributes to the cranial vault

Occipital bone

Back/bottom of the skull; contains the foramen magnum

Temporal bone

Side of the skull; houses the inner ear

Sphenoid bone

Bat-shaped bone at the skull base; helps form eye sockets and cranial base

Zygomatic bone

Cheekbone; forms part of the orbit

Nasal bone

Small bones forming the bridge of the nose

Maxilla

Upper jaw bone; holds upper teeth

Mandible

Lower jaw bone; movable and holds lower teeth

Cervical vertebrae

7 vertebrae in the neck region of the spine

Atlas (C1)

First cervical vertebra; articulates with the skull and allows nodding

Axis (C2)

Second cervical vertebra; allows rotation of the head

Thoracic vertebrae

12 vertebrae in the mid-spine; articulate with the ribs

Lumbar vertebrae

5 vertebrae in the lower back; thick vertebral bodies

Sacrum

5 fused vertebrae at the base of the spine; articulates with the hip bones

Coccyx

3–5 fused bones; commonly called the tailbone

Humerus

Long bone of the upper limb; example of a long bone

Radius

Forearm bone on the thumb side; “rad” bone

Ulna

Forearm bone on the pinky side; runs parallel to the radius

Carpals

Wrist bones; part of the upper limb

Metacarpals

Palm bones; part of the upper limb

Phalanges (fingers)

Finger bones; part of the upper limb

Coxal bone

Hip bone; composed of ilium, ischium, and pubis; fused by ~25 years

Bone

____ are hard and dense

Cartilage

_____ less rigid, provides flexibility and smooth surfaces for gliding

Yellow bone marrow

____ is adipose tissue. As the skeleton increase in size during childhood and adolescence, it gains ___ bone marrow

hyaline cartilage

__ protects the bone and provides a gliding surface in joints

ligaments

___ connects bones to each other

periosteum

____ is a layer of connective tissue that protects, provides attachment sites, and houses osteoblasts and osteoclasts

red bone marrow

__is the site of generation of blood cells

Elastic Cartilage

____ is found in places that need stretch or change shape and then return

hyaline cartilage

___ the most abundant type of cartilage in the skeletal system

calcium

____ enable neurons to communicate with each other

hematopoiesis

the process of production of blood cells

206

how many bones are in the body ?

leverage

The function of long bone is for ___

stability, support, some motion

The function of short bone is for ___

protect internal organs

Irregular bones function is to ___