Biology 325 – Principles of Human Anatomy Axial Skeleton

Flashcards regarding principles of human anatomy, focusing on the axial skeleton.

What does the axial skeleton consist of?

Skull, vertebral column, and thoracic cage.

What does the appendicular skeleton consist of?

Shoulder and hip bones and those of the upper and lower extremities.

What are the two categories of skull bones?

Facial and cranial bones.

What does the nasal complex consist of?

Bones and cartilages forming the nasal cavities and paranasal sinuses.

What are paranasal sinuses?

Air-filled spaces in skull bones around the nasal cavity that humidify and warm inhaled air, provide resonance for voice, and reduce skull weight.

What four bones form the nasal septum?

Ethmoid, vomer, maxilla, and palatine bones.

What two structures is the hard palate formed by?

Palatine process of the maxilla bone and horizontal plate of the palatine bone.

What is a cleft palate?

A congenital fissure in the midline of the palate resulting from incomplete fusion of left and right bones.

What are the regions of the vertebral column?

7 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, sacrum, and coccyx.

What are the four adult vertebral curvatures?

Cervical (curves anteriorly), thoracic (curves posteriorly), lumbar (curves anteriorly), and sacral (curves posteriorly).

What are some possible causes for abnormalities of the normal spinal curvature?

Poor posture, disease, and congenital defects.

What is kyphosis?

A thoracic curving of the spine that causes a bowing or rounding of the back, which leads to a “hunchback” or slouching posture.

What is lordosis?

A lumbar curvature that is observed as a protrusion of the abdomen and buttock; often called “swayback”.

What is scoliosis?

An abnormal lateral curvature which is the most common curvature disorder.

Where are the typical vertebrae located?

C3 – C7; T1 – T12; L1 – L5

Where are the atypical vertebrae located?

C1 (atlas), C2 (axis), sacrum, and coccyx.

What is the nucleus pulposus?

The gelatinous inner portion of the intervertebral disc.

What is the anulus fibrosus?

The outer ring of cartilage in the intervertebral disc.

What are the major groups of bones contained in the appendicular skeleton?

Pectoral girdle, upper limbs, pelvic girdle, and lower limbs

What is the brachial region?

Area between shoulder and elbow, consisting only of the humerus.

What is the antebrachial region?

Area between elbow and wrist, consisting only of the radius and ulna.

What is the interosseous membrane?

Dense regular connective tissue that maintains distance between radius and ulna and provides pivot point for rotation.

What is supination?

Radius and ulna are parallel to each other with palm facing anteriorly.

What is pronation?

Radius crosses over the ulna with palm facing posteriorly.

What does the thigh consist of?

Consists of the femur which is the longest, strongest, and heaviest bone in the body.

What bones make up the leg?

Fibula and tibia which are connected by interosseous membrane and only tibia is weight bearing bone in leg.

What are the three major arches of the foot?

Medial (from heel to hallux; highest arch), Lateral (from heel to 5th toe; lowest arch), and Transverse (perpendicular to other arches; along distal row of tarsals).

What is Polydactyly?

Condition of extra digits.

What is Ectrodactyly?

Condition of absent digits.

What is Syndactyly?

Abnormal fusion of digits or webbing between digits.

What is Meromelia/Amelia?

Partial (meromelia) or complete absence (Amelia) of limbs.

What is Phocomelia?

Short, poorly formed limbs that resemble a flipper.