BSC2085L E.9 Appendicular Skeleton

Developed for the Broward College course BSC2085/L Anatomy and Physiology II.

pectoral girdle

• Consists of the scapula and clavicle.
• Connects the upper extremities to the axial skeleton.

clavicle

• Located posterosuperior to the rib cage.
• Consists of an acromial (lateral) end and a sternal (medial) end.
• Also known as a collarbone.

acromial end

The lateral end of the collarbone.

sternal end

• The medial end of the collarbone.
• The end is rounded.

scapula

• Located posterior to the ribcage.
• Also known as a shoulder blade.

s

The most superior point of the scapula.

medial border

The border of the scapula most medial to the midline.

inferior angle

The most inferior point of the scapula.

lateral border

The border of the scapula most lateral to the midline.

subscapular fossa

A depression or basin located on the anterior side of the scapula.

supraspinous fossa

A depression or basin located on the posterior side of the scapula and superior to its spine.

infraspinous fossa

A depression or basin located on the posterior side of the scapula and inferior to its spine.

spine (scapula)

• A prominent ridge passing across the upper portion of the scapula on the posterior side.
• Separates the depression of the scapula on the posterior side into supraspinous and infraspinous fossae.

acromion

• An extension of the scapula that forms the point of the shoulder.
• Attached to the spine of the scapula on the posterior side.
• Posterosuperior to the lateral border and coracoid process.

coracoid process

• The part of the scapula that stabilizes the shoulder joint.
• Superior to the glenoid cavity on the anterior side of the scapula.

glenoid cavity

• A socket of the scapula that articulates with the humerus.
• Located inferior to the coracoid process and on the lateral side of the anterior scapula.

humerus

Also known as an upper arm bone.

head (humerus)

• The superior part of the humerus.
• Located on the proximal end of the humerus facing medially.
• Articulates with the glenoid cavity of scapula.

anatomical neck

An imaginary border that identifies the head of the humerus.

greater tubercle

• The larger rounded process of the humerus.
• Located on the proximal end of the humerus.

lesser tubercle

• The smaller rounded process of the humerus.
• Located on the proximal end of the humerus.

intertubercular groove

• The groove between the greater and lesser tubercles of the humerus.
• Also known as the bicipital groove.

surgical neck

• An imaginary border that identifies the proximal epiphysis of the humerus.
• Signifies where most fractures of the humerus occur.

deltoid tuberosity

• A raised area on the lateral surface of the diaphysis of the humerus.
• Where the deltoid muscles attach.

lateral epicondyle (humerus)

The bump on the lateral side of the distal epiphysis of the humerus.

radial fossa

• A small depression found superior to the capitulum on the anterolateral side of the humerus.
• Receives the anterior border of the head when the forearm is flexed.

capitulum

• A smooth, rounded eminence on the lateral epicondyle of the humerus.
• Adjacent to the trochlea.

medial epicondyle (humerus)

The bump on the medial side of the distal epiphysis of the humerus.

coronoid fossa

• A small depression found superior to the trochlea on the anteromedial side of the humerus.
• Receives the coronoid process of the ulna when the forearm is flexed.

trochlea

• A cylindrical structure on the medial epicondyle of the humerus.
• Adjacent to the capitulum.

olecranon fossa

• A triangular depression found on the posterior side of the distal epiphysis of the humerus.
• Superior to the trochlea (posterior view).

radius

The lateral bone of the forearm.

head (radius)

Found proximal to the neck and radial tuberosity of the radius.

neck (radius)

A narrowed region between the distal radial tuberosity and proximal head of the radius.

radial tuberosity

A prominent bump on the medial side of the radius distal from the head and neck.

ulnar notch (radius)

• A smooth area at the distal and medial end of the radius.
• Articulates with the head of the ulna.

styloid process (radius)

A bony projection at the distal and lateral end of the radius.

ulna

The medial bone of the forearm.

olecranon process

• A bony projection at the proximal end of the ulna.
• Forms a u-shaped curve that can be used to identify the ulna.

coronoid process

A triangular projection at the proximal end of the ulna on its anterior side.

radial notch (ulna)

• A depression on the lateral side of the proximal end of the ulna.
• Articulates with the head of the radius.

head (ulna)

The distal end of the ulna.

styloid process (ulna)

A bony projection at the distal and medial end of the ulna.

carpals

• The eight bones of the wrist.
• Includes the scaphoid, lunate, triquetrum, pisiform, hamate, capitate, trapezoid, and trapezium.

scaphoid

The carpal bone that is most lateral in the proximal row.

lunate

The carpal bone that is immediately medial to the scaphoid in the proximal row.

triquetrum

The carpal bone that is immediately medial to the lunate in the proximal row.

pisiform

The carpal bone that is most medial in the proximal row.

hamate

The carpal bone that is most medial in the distal row.

capitate

The carpal bone that is immediately lateral to the hamate in the distal row.

trapezoid

The carpal bone that is immediately lateral to the capitate in the distal row.

trapezium

The carpal bone that is most lateral in the distal row.

metacarpals

• The five bones of the palms.
• Labelled I-V accordingly for each finger, starting with the thumb (I) and ending with the pinky (V).
• Distal to the carpals.

phalanges

• The bones of the extremities (fingers and toes).
• Labelled I-V accordingly for each finger, starting with the thumb or big toe (I) and ending with the pinky or pinky toe (V).
• Labelled distal, middle, or proximal accordingly.

proximal phalanx

The bone of the extremities that are most proximal.

middle phalanx

• The bone of the extremities that are between the proximal and distal phalanges.
• Absent in phalanges I (thumb and big toe).

distal phalanx

The bone of the extremities that are most distal.

pelvic girdle

• Composed of the coxal bones, sacrum, and coccyx.
• Connects the lower extremities to the vertebral column.
• Also known as the pelvis.

coxal bone

• Composed of the ilium, ischium, and pubis.
• Also known as os coxae (plural, ossa coxae) or a hip bone.

acetabulum

• A socket of the coxal bone formed by the ilium, ischium, and pubis. \n • Found on the lateral side of the coxal bone.

obturator foramen

An opening in the coxal bone formed by the pubis and ischium.

ilium

• The superior portion of the coxal bone.
• Composed of the iliac spines, a fossa, a crest, and the greater sciatic notch.

iliac crest

The superior border of the ilium and coxal bone.

iliac fossa

The large depression on the medial side of the ilium.

anterior superior iliac spine

• The superior projection found at the anterior side of the ilium.
• Ipsilateral to the pubis.

anterior inferior iliac spine

• The inferior projection found at the anterior side of the ilium.
• Ipsilateral to the pubis.

posterior superior iliac spine

• The superior projection found at the posterior side of the ilium.
• Ipsilateral to the ischium.

posterior inferior iliac spine

• The inferior projection found at the posterior side of the ilium.
• Ipsilateral to the ischium.
• Superior to the greater sciatic notch.

greater sciatic notch

• Found on the ilium.
• Inferior to the posterior inferior iliac spine and superior to the ischial spine of the ischium.

ischium

• The inferior and posterior part of the coxal bone.
• Composed of a notch, a tuberosity, the lesser sciatic notch, and a ramus.

ischial spine

• A projection found on the posterior portion of the ischium.
• Inferior to the greater sciatic notch of the ilium and superior to the lesser sciatic notch.

lesser sciatic notch

• Found on the ischium.
• Inferior to the ischial spine and superior to the ischial tuberosity.

ischial tuberosity

• A prominent bump best seen on the lateral side of the coxal bone.
• Inferior to the lesser sciatic notch.

ischial ramus

A narrow, horizontal portion of the ischium that articulates with the pubis.

pubis

• The inferior and anterior part of the coxal bone.
• Consists of two rami.

superior pubic ramus

• A narrow, vertical or oblique portion of the pubis that articulates with the ilium.

inferior pubic ramus

• A narrow, horizontal portion of the pubis that articulates with the ischium.

femur

Also known as the thigh bone.

head (femur)

• The medial projection of the proximal epiphysis of the femur.
• Articulates with the acetabulum of the coxal bone.
• Contains the fovea capitis.

fovea capitis

A pit in the head of the femur.

neck (femur)

• The stem of the head on the femur.
• Partitions the head from the rest of the femur.

greater trochanter

• A bony prominence on the proximal lateral side of the femur.
• Opposite to the head of the femur.

lesser trochanter

A bony prominence immediately inferior to the neck of the femur.

gluteal tuberosity

• A ridge superior to the linea aspera on the posterior and lateral side of the femur.
• Articulates with the gluteus maximus muscle.

linea aspera

A ridge on the diaphysis of the femur.

lateral epicondyle (femur)

The bump on the lateral side of the distal epiphysis of the femur.

lateral condyle (femur)

A projection on the lateral epicondyle of the femur on its posterior.

medial epicondyle (femur)

The bump on the medial side of the distal epiphysis of the femur.

medial condyle (femur)

A projection on the medial epicondyle of the femur on its posterior.

intercondylar fossa

The depression between the condyles of the femur on its posterior.

patellar surface

• A depression between the epicondyles of the femur on its anterior.
• Articulates with the patella (kneecap).

tibia

The medial and larger bone of the lower leg.

intercondylar eminence

One of the two projections on the proximal end of the tibia.

medial condyle (tibia)

The medial portion of the proximal end of the tibia.

lateral condyle (tibia)

The lateral portion of the proximal end of the tibia.

tibial tuberosity

• A bony prominence directly inferior to the proximal epiphysis of the tibia on its anterior side.
• Articulates with the patellar ligament.

anterior crest

• A ridge on the anterior side of diaphysis of the tibia that can be palpated.
• Also known as the anterior border of the tibia.

medial malleolus

A process on the distal epiphysis of the tibia that is most medial.

fibula

The lateral and smaller bone of the lower leg.

head (fibula)

The proximal end of the fibula that articulates with the tibia.