Axial Skeleton Practical Terms

frontal bone

forms the anterior and posterior portions of the skull

supraorbital foramen

a path for vessels and nerves from the orbit to the superficial region of the forehead

parietal bones

form the sides and roof of the cranium

occipital bone

major part of the posterior wall and base of the skull

foramen magnum

a passage of the CNS through the skull connecting brain w spinal cord

occipital condyle

articulate w the superior articular facets of the atlas (c1 vetebrae) and form a hinge join allowing flexion and extension of the head

temporal bones

forms lower lateral walls of the skull

mastoid process

bony projection at the base of the temporal bones on each side of the skull that serves as an attachment point for several head and neck muscles

external auditory meatus

channels sound to the inner ear

mandibular fossa

oval depression that receives condyle of the mandible

carotid foramen

allows carotid artery carrying O2 blood to pass into the cranium + supply brain

jugular foramen

transmits jugular vein from brain to heart and cranial nerves

articular tubercle

forms anterior boundary of mandibular fossa

styloid process

serves as an anchor point for several muscles assoc w the tongue and larynx; helps tongue, pharynx, larynx, hyoid bone and mandible movement

sphenoid bone

forms base of cranium, behind eye and below front part of brain

sella turcica

holds and protects pituitary glandd

pterygoid process

allows jaw to move in a horizontal projection while chewing

optic foramen

contains optic nerve which transmits electrical impulses from eyes to brain

foramen lacerum

allows for passage of facial and sensory nerves

foramen ovale

transmits mandibular nerve

foramen spinosum

contains arteries, veins, and nerves serving the brain

ethmoid bone

small, cube shaped bone in skull center that helps form the eye sockets, nasal cavity, and sinuses

crista galli

vertical, wedge shaped process that projects from the superior surface of the ethmoid bone; separated the olfactory bulbs

cribriform plate

thin, horizontal bone plate that forms roof of nasal cavity and separates the brain from the nasal cavity

perpendicular plate

projects from inferior surface of ethmoid bone forms superior half of nasal septum

maxilla

bones which form upper jaw, roof of mouth, and parts of eye socket and nose

superior alveolar process

the thick, curved ridge of bone that form the socket for the upper teeth

infraorbital foramen

small holes in maxilla, located below eye socket and to the left and right of the nose

frontal process

thin, long, superior projection found along side the side of the nose forming part of its lateral boundary

anterior nasal spine

projects anteriorly in the midline, inferior to nasal cavity

lacrimal bones

2 small bones of the maxilla situated at the anterior portion of the medial wall of each orbit

lacrimal fossa

opening in lacrimal bone that provides drainage for the lacrimal gland

nasal bones

a pair of bony plates that form the left and right bridge of nose

vomer

forms interior half of the nasal septum

zygomatic bones

a pair of bones that form the check and part of eye socket on each side of the skull

zygomatic arch

bridge of bone extending from the temporal bone at the side of the head around the the maxilla in front

palatine bones

form the rear of the hard plate and part of the wall and floor of the nasal cavity

madible

lower jaw bone

inferior alveolar process

thick, curved ridge of bone that forms the scoket for the lower teeth

mental foramen

an opening in the mandible that allows the mental nerve to recit and enervate the lower lop, cheeks, chin

mental protuberance

bony protrusion in the front of the lower jaw that forms the chin

condylar process

the process on the mandible that ends in a condyle that articulates with the temporal bone at the mandibular fossa

mandibular notch

a U shaped groove in the mandible found between the coronoid process anteriorly and the condylar process posteriorly

incisive foramen/canals

an opening in the hard palate that allows nerves and blood vessles to pass between the nasal and oral cavities

coronoid process

a triangular projection on the madible that provides an attatchment point for the muscles used for chewing

Vertebral Column -

a column of several vertebrae (24 total), stacked on top of each other from the bottom of the skull to the pelvis; protects the spinal cord and supports the body's weight

1. Cervical Vertebrae -

7 vertebrae found at the top of the vertebral column

thoracic vertebrae

12 vertebrae foudn in mid section of v column

sacrum

large, triangular bone that forms the base of the spine + back wall of the pelvis. strengthens and stabalizes the pelvis

coccyx

final segment of the vertebral column composed of 3-5 fused vertebrae, supports ur weight + balance when sitting

6. Vertebrae -

one of the series of irregular shaped bones that makes up the vertebral column 

articulating processes

bony projections that connect vertebrae together, forming

joints that help stabilize the spine: 

spinous/dorsal process

extends backwards from the body of the vertebra, attaches to msucles + ligaments whihc support/move v column

transverse process

wing like projections of bone extending laterally from each side of the vertebrae body that allow back muscles and ligaments ro attach to the verterbral column

intervertebral column

opening between adj vertebrae that allows spinal nerves and bv to pass through laterally

vertebral foramen

opening between adj vertebrae that allows spinal nerves and bv to pass through

vertebrae body

large rounded portion of each vertebrae

intervertebral disc

cushion of fibrocartilage between 2 vertebrae in the spinal column

sutures

joints made of strong fibrous tissue that hold skull bones together

Cranium  -

the part of the skull that encloses the brain