3- axial skeleton

A set of vocabulary flashcards based on the lecture notes for BIOL 1863, focusing on the axial skeleton.

Axial Skeleton

The portion of the skeleton that consists of the skull, hyoid bone, vertebral column, and rib cage.

Cranium

The skull part that contains and protects the brain, made up of eight bones in adults.

Mandible

The only movable bone in the skull, forming the lower jaw.

Foramen Magnum

A large hole in the occipital bone through which the spinal cord passes.

Sinuses

Air spaces in some skull bones that reduce weight and give the voice a resonant sound.

Hyoid Bone

The only bone in the body that does not articulate with another bone and anchors the tongue.

Vertebral Column

A structure consisting of 33 vertebrae that supports the body and encases the spinal cord.

Kyphosis

An abnormal posterior curvature of the spine, often referred to as 'hunchback'.

Lordosis

An abnormal anterior curvature of the spine, known as 'swayback'.

Scoliosis

An abnormal sideways curvature of the spine.

Intervertebral Disks

Fibrocartilaginous structures that absorb shock and prevent vertebrae from grinding against each other.

True Ribs

Ribs 1 to 7 that connect directly to the sternum via costal cartilage.

False Ribs

Ribs 8 to 12 whose costal cartilage does not connect directly to the sternum.

Floating Ribs

The last two pairs of ribs (11 and 12) that do not attach to the sternum.

Sternum

The breastbone, composed of three parts: manubrium, body, and xiphoid process.

Fibrocartilage

A tough, flexible tissue that makes up intervertebral disks.

Cervical Vertebrae

The vertebrae in the neck region; includes the atlas and axis.

Thoracic Vertebrae

The twelve vertebrae located in the thoracic cavity, articulating with the ribs.

Lumbar Vertebrae

The five vertebrae in the abdominal cavity that have larger bodies and thicker processes.

Coccyx

The small, triangular bone at the base of the vertebral column, formed by the fusion of four vertebrae.