Bones and Bone Markings: Axial and Appendicular Skeleton

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering bone markings, classifications, and major anatomical structures of the axial and appendicular skeletons.

Head

A bony expansion carried on a narrow neck that helps to form a joint.

Facet

A smooth, nearly flat articular surface that helps to form a joint.

Condyle

A rounded articular projection that helps to form a joint.

Ramus

An armlike bar of bone that helps to form a joint.

Tuberosity

A large, rounded projection that serves as a site of muscle and ligament attachment; may be roughened.

Crest

A narrow ridge of bone that is usually prominent, serving as a site for muscle and ligament attachment.

Trochanter

A very large, blunt, irregularly shaped process for muscle attachment; the only examples are located on the femur.

Line

A narrow ridge of bone that is less prominent than a crest, serving as a site for muscle and ligament attachment.

Tubercle

A small, rounded projection or process serving as a site of muscle and ligament attachment.

Epicondyle

A raised area on or above a condyle.

Spine (Bone Marking)

A sharp, slender, often pointed projection that serves as an attachment site.

Process

Any bony prominence.

Groove

A furrow depression that allows for the passage of blood vessels and nerves.

Fissure

A narrow, slitlike opening through which blood vessels and nerves pass.

Foramen

A round or oval opening through a bone for the passage of blood vessels and nerves.

Notch

An indentation at the edge of a structure that allows passage of nerves and vessels.

Meatus

A canal-like passageway through a bone.

Sinus

A cavity within a bone, filled with air and lined with mucous membrane.

Fossa

A shallow, basinlike depression in a bone, often serving as an articular surface.

Atlas (C1)

The first cervical vertebra, characterized by an anterior arch, a posterior arch, transverse processes, and no vertebral body.

Axis (C2)

The second cervical vertebra, characterized by an upright tooth-like superior projection called the dens.

Dens

A tooth-like superior process on the body of the axis (C2) vertebra.

True Ribs

Rib pairs 1 through 7 that attach directly to the sternum via costal cartilages.

False Ribs

Rib pairs 8 through 12 that attach indirectly to the sternum or do not attach at all.

Floating Ribs

Rib pairs 11 and 12, which are false ribs lacking any anterior attachment.

Sternum

The anterior central bone of the thoracic cage consisting of three fused parts: the manubrium, sternal body, and xiphoid process.

Glenoid Cavity

A shallow depression on the lateral angle of the scapula that articulates with the head of the humerus.

Acromion

The lateral projection of the spine of the scapula that articulates with the acromial end of the clavicle.

Coracoid Process

A hook-like anterior projection on the superior border of the scapula.

Deltoid Tuberosity

A roughened triangular area along the mid-shaft of the humerus for muscle attachment.

Olecranon

A prominent process at the proximal end of the ulna that forms the tip of the elbow and fits into the olecranon fossa of the humerus.

Acetabulum

A deep socket on the lateral aspect of the coxal bone that articulates with the head of the femur.

Obturator Foramen

A large opening in the coxal bone surrounded by the pubis and ischium.

Linea Aspera

A prominent longitudinal ridge on the posterior surface of the femoral body (shaft).

Medial Malleolus

A prominent medial bony downward projection at the distal end of the tibia.

Lateral Malleolus

A prominent lateral expansion at the distal end of the fibula.