Anatomy of the Human Skeleton: Key Bones and Landmarks

Acetabulum

Socket of the hip bone that articulates with the head of the femur.

Acromial end

End of the clavicle that articulates with the acromion.

Acromion

Process of the scapula forming the highest point of the shoulder.

Anatomical neck

Narrow region just below the head of the humerus

Anterior inferior iliac spine

Bony projection of the ilium below the ASIS.

Anterior superior iliac spine

Anterior projection of the ilium; surface landmark.

Atlas (C1)

First cervical vertebra that supports the skull.

Axis (C2)

Second cervical vertebra that allows head rotation.

Body (sternum)

Long central portion of the sternum.

Body (vertebra)

Weight-bearing anterior portion of a vertebra.

Calcaneus

Heel bone; largest tarsal bone.

Capitate

Largest and centrally located carpal bone.

Capitulum

Lateral condyle of humerus; articulates with radius.

Carpal bones

Bones forming the wrist.

Cervical vertebrae

Seven vertebrae of the neck.

Clavicle

Collarbone connecting upper limb to axial

Coccyx

Tailbone inferior to sacrum.

Coracoid process

Anterior scapular projection for muscle attachment.

Coronal suture

Joint between frontal and parietal bones.

Coronoid process

Anterior projection of the ulna.

Costal facets

Articulation points for ribs on thoracic vertebrae.

Coxal bone

Hip bone composed of ilium, ischium, and pubis.

Cribriform plate

Perforated plate of ethmoid for olfactory nerves.

Crista galli

Midline projection of ethmoid bone.

Cuboid

Lateral tarsal bone of the foot.

Deltoid tuberosity

Roughened area of humerus for deltoid muscle.

Dense

Tooth-like projection of axis (C2).

Diaphysis

Shaft of a long bone.

Endosteum

Inner lining of bone cavities.

Epiphysis

End of a long bone.

Ethmoid bone

Bone forming nasal cavity and orbit.

External acoustic meatus

Ear canal opening in temporal bone.

Femur

Thigh bone; longest bone in body.

Fibula

Lateral bone of lower leg.

Foramen magnum

Large opening for spinal cord.

Foramen ovale

Opening in sphenoid bone.

Foramen rotundum

Opening for maxillary nerve.

Foramen spinosum

Opening for blood vessels.

Frontal bone

Forehead bone.

Glenoid cavity

Socket of scapula for humerus.

Greater horn (hyoid)

Larger projection of hyoid bone.

Greater sciatic notch

Large indentation in ilium.

Greater trochanter

Large lateral femoral projection.

Greater tubercle

Lateral projection of humerus.

Hamate

Carpal bone with hook-like process.

Head (femur)

Rounded proximal end articulating with the acetabulum

Humerus

Upper arm bone.

Hyoid bone

U-shaped bone supporting tongue.

Iliac crest

Superior border of ilium.

Ilium

Largest part of hip bone.

Inferior nasal conchae

Bones of lateral nasal cavity.

Infraspinous fossa

Posterior scapular depression.

Infraorbital foramen

Opening below orbit in maxilla.

Intercondylar eminence

Raised area between tibial condyles.

Intercondylar fossa

Depression between femoral condyles.

Ischial tuberosity

Sitting bone.

Jugular foramen

Opening for veins and nerves.

Lambdoid suture

Joint between occipital and parietal bones.

Mandible

Lower jaw bone.

Manubrium

Upper portion of sternum.

Mastoid process

Projection of temporal bone.

Maxilla

Upper jaw bone.

Medial malleolus

Inner ankle projection of tibia.

Medullary cavity

Space inside diaphysis.

Mental foramen

Opening on mandible.

Navicular

Boat-shaped tarsal bone.

Occipital bone

Posterior skull bone.

Olecranon process

Elbow point of ulna.

Optic canal

Passage for optic nerve.

Parietal bone

Superior lateral skull bone.

Patella

Kneecap.

Periosteum

Outer bone covering.

Radius

Lateral forearm bone.

Sagittal suture

Joint between parietal bones.

Sacrum

Fused vertebrae at base of spine.

Scaphoid

Boat-shaped carpal bone.

Scapula

Shoulder blade.

Sella turcica

Saddle-shaped depression of sphenoid.

Spinous process

Posterior vertebral projection.

Sphenoid bone

Central skull bone.

Sternum

Breastbone.

Talus

Ankle bone.

Temporal bone

Lateral skull bone.

Thoracic vertebrae

Vertebrae articulating with ribs.

Tibia

Medial lower leg bone.

Trapezium

Carpal bone at base of thumb.

Triquetral

Three-cornered carpal bone.

Ulna

Medial forearm bone.

Xiphoid process

Inferior tip of sternum.

Zygomatic bone

Cheekbone.

Zygomatic arch

Bony arch of cheek.