Bone Vocab

acetabulum

Rounded depression, or socket, in the pelvis that joins the femur (thigh bone), forming the hip joint.

acromion

Outward extension of the shoulder blade forming the point of the shoulder. It overlies the shoulder joint and articulates with the clavicle.

bone

Dense, hard connective tissue composing the skeleton. Examples are long bones (femur), short bones (carpals), flat bones (scapula), and sesamoid bones (patella).

bone depression

Opening or hollow region serving as a connection for bones, or as passageways for blood vessels and nerves. Examples are fissure, foramen, fossa, and sinus.

bone process

Enlarged area that extends from bones, covered in articular cartilage and serves as an attachment for muscles, tendons, and ligaments.

calcium

One of the mineral constituents of bone, provides bone strength

cancellous bone

Spongy, porous, bone tissue in the inner part of a bone.

cartilage

Flexible, connective tissue; found in the immature skeleton, at the epiphyseal growth plate, and on joint surfaces (articular cartilage).

collagen

Dense, connective tissue protein strands found in bone and other tissues, such as ligaments, tendons, and skin.

compact bone

Hard, dense bone tissue, usually found around the outer portion of bones.

ethmoid, frontal, occipital, parietal, sphenoid, and temporal.

Cranial bones

diaphysis

Shaft, or mid-portion, of a long bone.

disc

Flat, round, plate-like structure. An intervertebral disc is a fibrocartilaginous structure between two vertebrae.

epiphyseal plate

Cartilaginous area at the ends of long bones where lengthwise growth takes place in the immature skeleton.

epiphysis

Each end of a long bone; the area beyond the epiphyseal plate.

lacrimal, mandibular, maxillary, nasal, vomer, and zygomatic.

facial bones

fontanelle

Soft spot (incomplete bone formation) between the skull bones of an infant.

foramen magnum

Opening of the occipital bone through which the spinal cord passes.

haversian canals

Minute spaces filled with blood vessels; found in compact bone.

ligament

Fibrous connective tissue that binds bones to other bones. Ligaments are bands, sheets, or strands located in and around joints.

malleolus

Round process on both sides of the ankle joint.

manubrium

Upper portion of the sternum; joins with the clavicle to form the sternoclavicular joint.

mastoid process

Rounded projection on the temporal bone behind the ear.

medullary cavity

Central, hollowed-out area in the shaft of a long bone.

metaphysis

Flared portion of a long bone, between the diaphysis (shaft) and the epiphyseal plate

olecranon

Large process on the proximal end of the ulna at the elbow.

orthopedist

Medical doctor who specializes in bone, joint, and muscle conditions.

osseous tissue

Bone tissue.

ossification

Process of bone formation.

osteoblast

Bone cell that helps form bony tissue.

osteoclast

Bone cell that absorbs and removes unwanted bony tissue.

periosteum

Membrane surrounding bones; rich in blood vessels and nerve tissue.

phosphorus

Mineral substance found in bones in combination with calcium.

physiatrist

Medical doctor specializing in rehabilitation

pubic symphysis

Junction of the two public bones in the anterior of the pelvis. Joined by a fibrocartilaginous disc.

red bone marrow

Soft spongy (cancellous) tissue found in the interior of flat bones, such as the hip and breast bone; site of hematopoiesis (formation of blood cells).

ribs

Twelve pairs of curved bones that form the chest wall. True ribs are the first 7 pairs; false ribs are pairs 8 to 10; floating ribs are pairs 11 and 12.

sella turcica

Depression in the sphenoid bone where the pituitary gland is located.

sinus

Hollow air cavity within a bone.

styloid process

Pole-like process extending downward from the temporal bone on each side of the skull.

Suture

Immovable joint between bones, such as the skull (cranium).

temporomandibular joint

Connection on either side of the head between the temporal bone of the skull and mandibular bone of the jaw.

tendon

Fibrous connective tissue that binds muscles to bones.

trabeculae

Supporting latticework of bony fibers in cancellous (spongy) bone.

vertebra

Individual segment of the spine composed of the vertebral body, vertebral arch, spinous process, transverse process, and lamina, enclosing the neural canal and spinal cord.

xiphoid process

Lower, narrow portion of the sternum.

yellow bone marrow

Fatty tissue found in the medullary cavity of most adult long bones.