Bones Practice Practicum

Clavicle

Long, S-shaped bone that links the sternum to the scapula and forms the anterior portion of the shoulder girdle.

Sternal End (of clavicle)

Rounded, thick, medial end of the clavicle that articulates with the sternum.

Acromial End (of clavicle)

Flatter, broader, lateral end of the clavicle that articulates with the acromion of the scapula.

Conoid Tubercle

Small, cone-shaped bump on the inferior surface near the acromial end of the clavicle.

Right vs. Left Clavicle Check

Sternal end faces medially, acromial end laterally; bone curves anteriorly then posteriorly; rough surface is inferior.

Scapula

Flat, triangular bone on the posterior thorax that forms the shoulder blade.

Spine (of scapula)

Prominent horizontal ridge on the posterior surface of the scapula.

Acromion

Lateral projection at the end of the scapular spine; forms the highest point of the shoulder and articulates with the clavicle.

Glenoid Fossa (cavity)

Shallow, oval socket on the lateral scapula that receives the head of the humerus.

Coracoid Process

Hook-like projection on the anterior scapula, superior to the glenoid fossa.

Superior Border (of scapula)

Top edge of the scapula between the superior angles.

Lateral (Axillary) Border

Thick, angled edge on the lateral side of the scapula, adjacent to the axilla; glenoid fossa is the landmark.

Medial Border (of scapula)

Long, straight edge of the scapula closest to the vertebral column.

Right vs. Left Scapula Check

Glenoid cavity faces laterally; with spine posterior, cavity pointing right = right scapula, left = left scapula.

Humerus

Long bone of the upper arm extending from shoulder to elbow.

Head (of humerus)

Rounded proximal end that articulates with the glenoid fossa of the scapula.

Shaft (of humerus)

Long cylindrical mid-portion of the humerus.

Greater Tubercle

Large lateral projection near the humeral head.

Lesser Tubercle

Smaller, anterior-medial projection near the humeral head.

Intertubercular Groove

Long groove between the greater and lesser tubercles on the anterior humerus.

Surgical Neck (of humerus)

Narrow region just distal to the tubercles; common fracture site.

Anatomical Neck (of humerus)

Slight constriction directly inferior to the head, separating it from the tubercles.

Deltoid Tuberosity

Rough lateral mid-shaft area where the deltoid muscle inserts.

Medial Epicondyle

Large bump on the distal medial humerus, same side as the head.

Lateral Epicondyle

Smaller bump on the distal lateral humerus.

Capitulum

Rounded lateral condyle on the distal anterior humerus that articulates with the head of the radius.

Trochlea

Pulley-shaped medial condyle on the distal anterior humerus that articulates with the ulna.

Coronoid Fossa

Small anterior depression above the trochlea that receives the coronoid process of the ulna during flexion.

Radial Fossa

Anterior depression lateral to the coronoid fossa that accommodates the head of the radius during flexion.

Olecranon Fossa

Large posterior depression on the distal humerus that receives the olecranon of the ulna during extension.

Right vs. Left Humerus Check

Head faces medially; olecranon fossa is posterior. Head on left side = left humerus; head on right = right humerus.

Radius

Lateral bone of the forearm; has a round head at its proximal end.

Head of Radius

Flat, round disc-shaped proximal end of the radius that articulates with the capitulum of the humerus and the ulna.

Radial Tuberosity

Rough bump just inferior to the head on the medial side of the radius for muscle attachment.

Styloid Process of Radius

Needle-like projection on the distal, lateral side of the radius.

Ulnar Notch of Radius

Small concave surface on the distal medial side of the radius that articulates with the head of the ulna.

Right vs. Left Radius

Radial tuberosity facing left with styloid process pointing right/outward → right radius; opposite orientation → left radius.

Ulna

Medial bone of the forearm; characterized by a large U-shaped proximal notch.

Olecranon Process

Large hook-like projection at the proximal ulna forming the elbow bump; articulates with the olecranon fossa of the humerus.

Trochlear Notch

C-shaped notch between olecranon and coronoid processes; receives the trochlea of the humerus.

Coronoid Process

Smaller anterior hook just below the trochlear notch that fits into the coronoid fossa of the humerus.

Head of Ulna

Small, round distal end of the ulna; opposite the radius where the head is proximal.

Radial Notch (Ulna)

Curved surface on the lateral proximal ulna where the radial head rests.

Styloid Process of Ulna

Pointy projection on the distal, medial-posterior side felt on the pinky side of the wrist.

Right vs. Left Ulna

With olecranon up, styloid down, trochlear notch facing anterior: radial notch on right → left ulna; radial notch on left → right ulna.

Carpals

Eight small wrist bones arranged in proximal and distal rows (four each).

Scaphoid

Boat-shaped proximal carpal bone lateral to the lunate.

Lunate

Moon-shaped proximal carpal bone medial to scaphoid.

Triquetrum

Triangular proximal carpal bone medial to lunate; articulates with pisiform.

Pisiform

Small pea-shaped sesamoid bone sitting on the triquetrum.

Trapezium

Distal carpal bone under the thumb; lateral in distal row.

Trapezoid

Wedge-shaped distal carpal between trapezium and capitate.

Capitate

Largest carpal; central distal bone that articulates with the 3rd metacarpal.

Hamate

Distal carpal with a hook-like projection (hamulus) on its palmar surface.

Metacarpals (1-5)

Five long bones of the palm counted from thumb (1) to pinky (5).

Phalanges

Bones of the fingers; each finger has proximal, middle, and distal phalanges except the thumb, which has only proximal and distal.

Proximal Phalanx

Phalanx closest to the palm, articulating with a metacarpal.

Middle Phalanx

Intermediate phalanx between proximal and distal segments (absent in thumb).

Distal Phalanx

Terminal bone forming the fingertip.

Os Coxa (Hip Bone)

Large, flat, irregular bone with acetabulum, obturator foramen, and wing-like ilium; forms half of the pelvis.

Acetabulum

Deep cup-shaped lateral socket of the hip bone that receives the head of the femur.

Obturator Foramen

Large oval/triangular hole in the hip bone inferior to the acetabulum.

Ilium

Largest, most superior fan-shaped part of the hip bone.

Ischium

Posterior-inferior portion of the hip bone; the part you sit on.

Pubis

Anterior-medial portion of the hip bone that meets its mate at the pubic symphysis.

Iliac Crest

Curved superior ridge of the ilium for muscle attachment.

Greater Sciatic Notch

Large curved indentation on the posterior border of the ilium.

Sacroiliac Joint Surface

Medial auricular surface of the ilium that articulates with the sacrum.

Ischial Tuberosity

Large rough projection on the inferior-posterior ischium; weight-bearing when sitting.

Ischial Spine

Sharp pointed projection between greater and lesser sciatic notches.

Pubic Symphysis Surface

Medial surface of the pubis that articulates with the opposite pubis.

Right vs. Left Hip Bone

Acetabulum faces laterally, greater sciatic notch posterior, pubis anterior/medial; acetabulum right → right hip bone, left → left hip bone.

Femur

Thigh bone; longest and strongest bone in the body.

Head of Femur

Rounded ball on proximal femur that articulates with the acetabulum; always points medially.

Neck of Femur

Slanted constricted region connecting the head to the shaft.

Greater Trochanter

Large lateral projection opposite the femoral head.

Lesser Trochanter

Smaller medial-posterior bump just below the femoral neck.

Linea Aspera

Long vertical rough ridge on the posterior surface of the femur shaft.

Gluteal Tuberosity

Rough ridge on proximal posterior femur for gluteal muscle attachment.

Medial Condyle (Femur)

Rounded distal knob on the same side as the head; articulates with tibia.

Lateral Condyle (Femur)

Rounded distal knob opposite the head; articulates with tibia and fibula region.

Intercondylar Notch (Fossa)

Deep groove on the posterior distal femur between the condyles.

Patellar Surface

Smooth anterior groove on the distal femur that articulates with the patella.

Popliteal Surface

Broad, flat triangular area on the posterior distal femur above the condyles.

Right vs. Left Femur

Head pointing medially with patellar surface anterior: head to right → right femur; head to left → left femur.

Patella

A small, triangular sesamoid bone embedded in the tendon of the quadriceps femoris; articulates posteriorly with the femur.

Right-vs-Left Patella Test

Place the patella flat with the apex pointing downward; if it tilts right it is a right patella, if it tilts left it is a left patella.

Tibia

The larger, medial ‘shin’ bone of the lower leg.

Intercondylar Eminence

Raised, twin-peaked area on the superior tibia that fits into the intercondylar notch of the femur.

Tibial Tuberosity

Rough anterior bump just below the proximal tibia where the patellar ligament attaches.

Medial Malleolus

Pointed projection on the distal, medial tibia forming the inner ankle bump and articulating with the talus.

Fibular Notch

Shallow depression on the distal, lateral tibia that articulates with the fibula.

Right-vs-Left Tibia Rule

With tibial tuberosity anterior, if the medial malleolus is on the right side it is a left tibia, and vice versa.

Fibula

The slender, lateral bone of the lower leg.

Head of Fibula

Rounded proximal end of the fibula that articulates with the tibia.

Lateral Malleolus

Distal projection of the fibula forming the outer ankle bump; articulates medially with the tibia.

Tarsals

The seven ankle bones.

Talus

Superior tarsal bone that sits atop the calcaneus and articulates with the tibia; Latin for ‘ankle.’

Calcaneus

Largest tarsal forming the heel of the foot; Latin for ‘heel.’

Navicular

Boat-shaped tarsal located anterior to the talus.