axial skeleton - terms/definitions

cranial sutures

joints made of strong, fibrous tissue that hold the bones of the skull together

cranium

part of skull that encloses the brain

frontal bone

forms the anterior and superior portions of the skull

supraorbital foramen

a path for vessels and nerves from the orbit to the superficial region of the forehead

parietal bones

forms the sides and root of the cranium

occipital bone

major part of the posterior wall and base of the skull

foramen magnum

passage of the central nervous system through the skull connecting the brain with the spinal cord

occipital condyles

atriculate with the superior articular facets of the atlas and form a hing joint allowing flexion and extension of the head

temporal bones

forms lower lateral walls of the skull

mastoid process

bony projection at the base of the temporal lobes on each side of the skull that serves as an attachment point for head and neck muscles

external auditory meatus

channels sound into the inner ear

mandibular fossa

oval depression that receives condyle of the mandible

carotid foramen

allows carotid artery to pass into the cranium and supply the brain

jugular foramen

transmits jugular vein from the brain to the heart and cranial nerves

articular tubercle

forms anterior boundary of mandibular fossa

styloid process

serves as an anchor point for several muscles associated with the tongue and larynx; facilitates movement of the tongue, pharynx, larynx, hyoid bone, and mandible

sphenoid bone

forms base of the cranium behind the eye and below the front part of the brain

sella turcica

holds and protects the pituitary gland

pterygoid process

allows the jaw to move in a horizontal direction during chewing

optic foramen

contains the optic nerve which transmits electrical impulses from your eyes to your brain

foramen lacerum

allows for passage of facial and sensory nerves

foramen ovale

transmits the mandibular nerve

foramen spinosum

contains arteries, veins, and nerves serving the brain

ethmoid bone

small, cube-shaped bone in the center of the skull that helps form the eye sockets, nasal cavity, and sinuses

crista galli

vertical, wedge-shaped process that projects from the superior surface of the ethmoid bone; separates the olfactory bulbs

cribriform plate

a thin, horizontal bone plate that forms the root of the nasal cavity and separates the brain from the nasal cavity

perpendicular plate

projects from the interior surface of the ethmoid bone; forms superior half of the nasal septum

facial bones

bones that make up the face and are located between the cranium and mandible

maxilla

bones that form the upper jaw, the roof of the mouth, and parts of the eye socket and nose

superior alveolar process

thick, curved ridge of bone that forms the socket for the upper teeth

infraorbital foramen

small holes in the maxilla, located below the eye sockets and to the left and right of the nose

frontal process

thin, long, superior projection found along the side of the nose forming part of its lateral boundary

anterior nasal spine

projects anteriorly in the midline, inferior to nasal cavity

lacrimal bones

two small bones of the maxilla that are roughly the size of a little fingernail and situated at the anterior portion of the medical wall of each orbit

lacrimal fossa

opening in the lacrimal bone that provides drainage for the lacrimal gland

nasal bones

pair of bony plates that form the left and right bridge of the nose

vomer

forms inferior half of the nasal septum

zygomatic bones

pair of bones that form the cheek and part of the eye socket on each side of the skull

zygomatic arch

bridge of bone extending from the temporal bone at the side of the head around to the maxilla in the front

palatine bones

form the rear of the hard palate and part of the wall and floor of the nasal cavity

mandible

lower jaw bone

inferior alveolar process

thick, curved ridge of bone that forms the socket for the lower teeth

mental foramen

an opening in the mandible that allows the mental nerve to exit and enervate the lower lip, cheeks, chin

mental protuberance

bony protrusion in the front of the lower jaw that forms the chin

condylar process

process on the mandible that ends in a condyle that articulates with the temporal bone at the mandibular fossa

mandibular notch

a U-shaped groove in the mandible found between the coronoid process anteriorly and the condylar process posteriorly

incisive foramen/canals

an opening in the hard palate that allows the nerves and blood vessels to pass between the nasal and oral cavities

coronoid process

triangular projection on the mandible that provides an attachment point for the muscles used for chewing

vertebral column

column of several vertebrae stacked on top of each other from the bottom of the skull to the pelvis; protects the spinal cord and supports the body’s weight

cervical vertebrae

7 vertebrae found at the top of the vertebral column

thoracic vertebrae

12 vertebrae found in mid-section of the vertebral column

lumbar vertebrae

5 vertebrae found at the base of the vertebral column

sacrum

large, triangular bone that forms the base of the spine and the back wall of the pelvis; strengthens and stabilizes the pelvis

coccyx

final segment of the vertebral column, composed of 3-5 fused vertebrae; supports your weight and helps you keep your balance while you’re sitting down

vertebrae

one of the series of irregular shaped bone that makes up the vertebral column

articulating processes

bony projections that connect vertebrae together, forming joints that help stabilize the spine

spinous/dorsal process

extends backward from the body of the vertebra, attaches to muscles and ligaments, which support and move the vertebral column

intervertebral foramen

opening between adjacent vertebrae that allows spinal nerves and blood vessels to pass through laterally

vertebral foramen

opening between adjacent vertebrae that allows spinal nerves and blood vessels to pass through

vertebrae body

large rounded portion of each vertebrae

intervertebral disc

a cushion of fibrocartilage between two vertebrae in the spinal column

ribs

the bony framework of the thoracic cavity that surrounds and protects vital organs including the heart and lungs

true ribs

first seven pairs of ribs in the human body that attach directly to the sternum via costal cartilages

false ribs

eighth, ninth, and tenth pairs of ribs; costal cartilage does not directly/individually attach to the sternum

floating ribs

11th and 12th pair of rings; have no anterior articulation with the sternum or the other ribs

sternum

long, flat bone in the center of the chest that protects the heart, lungs, and other organs and attaches to ribs via costal cartilage

manubrium

superior portion of the sternum that articulates with the clavicle

body

central part of sternum that articulates with several ribs

xiphoid process

small, pointed, inferior section of the sternum