Axial Skeleton and Skull Anatomy

These flashcards cover key terminology and concepts related to the axial skeleton and skull anatomy, crucial for studying in preparation for exams.

Axial Skeleton

The central part of the skeleton that includes the skull, vertebral column, and thoracic cage, consisting of 80 bones.

Skull

Composed of 22 bones, divided into facial bones (anterior) and cranial bones (posterior).

Sutures

Junctions where bones in the skull meet, critical for stability and protection.

Fossa

A flat depression on a bone, serving as a basin or socket for other structures.

Foramen

An opening or hole in a bone, often for the passage of nerves and blood vessels.

Cranium

The non-facial portion of the skull, made up of eight bones: frontal, occipital, sphenoid, ethmoid, two temporal, and two parietal.

Sphenoid Bone

A complex bone in the skull known as the 'butterfly bone', involved in forming several structures in the skull.

Ethmoid Bone

Bone located at the anterior cranial fossa that forms part of the nasal cavity and sinuses.

Maxilla

The upper jaw bone that houses the upper teeth and forms part of the orbits.

Mandible

The lower jaw bone that houses the lower teeth and is capable of movement.

Sinuses

Air-filled spaces in the skull that lighten the bone structure and assist in warming and moisten ing inhaled air.

Optic Foramen

Opening in the sphenoid bone through which the optic nerve passes to the eye.

Superior Orbital Fissure

A slit-like opening in the sphenoid bone that allows cranial nerves to pass through to the eye.

Foramen Magnum

The large opening at the base of the skull where the spinal cord connects to the brain.

Crista Galli

A bony projection in the ethmoid bone serving as an attachment point for the brain's meninges.

Olfactory Foramina

Small openings in the cribriform plate of the ethmoid bone for the olfactory nerves.

Zygomatic Process

Protrusion of the temporal bone that contributes to the formation of the zygomatic arch (cheekbone).

Mandibular Fossa

The depression in the temporal bone where the mandible articulates.

Mastoid Process

Bony projection of the temporal bone located near the ear, involved in muscle attachment.

Hypoglossal Canal

Canal in the occipital bone through which hypoglossal nerve passes.

Frontal Bone

Bone that forms the forehead and the upper part of the eye sockets.

Parietal Bone

Bones that form the sides and roof of the skull.

Temporal Bone

Bones located at the sides and base of the skull, housing structures of the ear.

Occipital Bone

Bone that forms the back and base of the skull, containing the foramen magnum.

Lab Practical

An assessment format focusing on the identification of bones and structures.