Frog Osteology & Skeletal System – Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering key anatomical terms, bone features, and skeletal elements discussed in the lecture on frog osteology.

Osteology

The branch of anatomy that studies bones and their articulations.

Exoskeleton

Supportive hard structures located on the exterior of the body (e.g., shells of turtles, carapace of scorpions).

Endoskeleton

Internal framework of bones and cartilage; in vertebrates divided into axial, appendicular, and splanchnic skeletons.

Axial Skeleton

Central part of the skeleton consisting of skull, vertebral column, ribs, and sternum.

Appendicular Skeleton

Portion of the skeleton forming girdles and limb bones.

Splanchnic (Visceral) Skeleton

Bones that develop in soft tissues, e.g., os penis in dogs, os cordis in cattle.

Protection (Skeletal Function)

The skeleton safeguards vital organs such as the brain and heart.

Hematopoiesis

Formation of blood cells within red bone marrow.

Condyle

Rounded articular knob that forms a joint with another bone.

Facet

Smooth, flat articular surface on a bone.

Crest

Narrow ridge of bone, often for muscle attachment (e.g., iliac crest).

Epicondyle

Projection located superior to a condyle.

Line (Bone)

Slightly raised, elongated ridge on a bone.

Process

Any bony prominence projecting from the main body.

Protuberance

Bony outgrowth or prominence.

Spine (Bone)

Sharp, slender, or narrow process of bone.

Trochanter

Large, rough projection unique to the femur for muscle attachment.

Tubercle

Small, rounded process on a bone.

Tuberosity

Rough, elevated surface where muscles attach.

Alveolus

Pit or socket, as in a tooth socket.

Fossa

Shallow, broad, or elongated basin on a bone.

Fovea

Small pit or depression on a bone.

Sulcus

Groove accommodating a tendon, nerve, or vessel.

Canal (Bone)

Tubular passage or tunnel through a bone.

Fissure

Slit-like opening through a bone.

Foramen

Round or oval hole in a bone for vessels or nerves.

Meatus

Opening leading into a canal, e.g., external acoustic meatus.

Sinus (Bone)

Air-filled space within a bone.

Dichondylic Skull

Skull type possessing two occipital condyles that articulate with the atlas.

Premaxilla

Anterior bone of the upper jaw in frogs, bearing teeth.

Maxilla

Long upper-jaw bone located posterior to the premaxilla; tooth-bearing.

Vomer

Paired ventral skull bone bearing vomerine teeth near the internal nares.

Septomaxillary (Ethmoid)

Small bone forming the boundary of frog nostrils and surrounding Jacobson’s organ.

Palatine

Slender rod-like bone ventral to the orbit connecting maxilla and pterygoid.

Pterygoid

Y-shaped bone connecting the maxilla, palatine, and quadratojugal to the skull base.

Squamosal

Hammer-shaped dorsolateral skull bone articulating with the auditory capsule and quadrate cartilage.

Quadratojugal

Small posterior bone of the upper jaw that unites with quadrate cartilage.

Meckel’s Cartilage

Cartilaginous core of each ramus of the frog lower jaw.

Dentary

Small outer dermal bone covering the anterior part of Meckel’s cartilage in the lower jaw.

Angulosplenial

Inner, posterior dermal bone covering Meckel’s cartilage in the frog mandible.

Coronary Process

Projection on the lower jaw just anterior to its articular condyle.

Atlas Vertebra

First cervical vertebra; ring-like and articulates with skull condyles.

Procoelous Centrum

Vertebral body concave anteriorly and convex posteriorly (typical frog vertebra).

Amphicoelous Centrum

Vertebral body concave on both anterior and posterior surfaces (eighth vertebra).

Biconvex Centrum

Vertebral body convex on both ends (ninth, sacral vertebra).

Urostyle

Elongated, rod-like bone formed by fused caudal vertebrae in frogs.

Scapula

Dorsal bone of the pectoral girdle supporting the forelimb.

Suprascapula

Cartilaginous plate attached dorsally to the scapula in frogs.

Clavicle (Frog)

Slender rod-shaped bone of the ventral pectoral girdle.

Coracoid

Dumb-bell-shaped ventral bone of the pectoral girdle.

Epicoracoid

Mid-ventral cartilage strip uniting right and left coracoids and clavicles.

Omosternum

Anterior, Y-shaped bony element of the frog sternum.

Episternum

Rounded cartilaginous plate attached to the omosternum.

Mesosternum

Rod-like middle bone of the frog sternum.

Xiphisternum

Broad cartilaginous posterior part of the frog sternum.

Ilium

Elongated bone of the pelvic girdle connecting to the sacral vertebra.

Ischium

Posterior bone of the pelvic girdle contributing to the acetabulum; fused midline.

Pubis

Reduced triangular bone forming part of the pelvic girdle disc in frogs.

Acetabulum

Cup-shaped socket in the pelvic girdle receiving the head of the femur.

Humerus

Upper arm bone of the forelimb bearing a deltoid ridge and distal trochlea.

Radio-Ulna

Compound forearm bone formed by fusion of radius and ulna in frogs.

Olecranon Process

Projection at the proximal end of the radio-ulna for muscle attachment.

Carpals

Small wrist bones of the frog forelimb.

Metacarpals

Long bones supporting the digits of the frog forelimb.

Femur (Frog)

Thigh bone articulating with the pelvic acetabulum and tibio-fibula.

Tibio-Fibula

Single shank bone produced by fusion of tibia and fibula.

Tibial Crest

Raised ridge near the proximal end of the tibio-fibula.

Astragalus (Tibiale)

Inner proximal tarsal bone of the frog ankle.

Calcaneum (Fibulare)

Outer proximal tarsal bone of the frog ankle.

Metatarsals

Long bones of the foot supporting the toes.

Phalanges (Frog)

Small bones forming the digits; frog toes have 2, 2, 3, 4, 3 phalanges respectively.

Prehallux (Calcar)

Small preaxial rudimentary sixth toe of the frog’s foot.