chapter 7

scapula

what has no connection to the actual axial skeleton;
instead skeletal muscles and ligaments support it

patella and is only formed (endochondraly)

What is not formed during development

clavicle and scapulae

what bones form the pectoral girdle

clavicle (collerbone)

slender, slightly curved long bone 

STERNAL END of clavicle ("ice cream cone" shaped, medial end)

attaches to manubrium 

acromial end of clavicle (flattened, lateral end)

articulates with scapula 

pectoral girdle function

o Provide attachment sites for muscles

o Act as anterior braces or struts, which hold the scapulae and arms laterally away from the thorax

o Transmit compression forces from upper limbs to the thorax 

Glenoid Cavity

• shallow fossa or cavity which articulates with the head of the humerus

o Visible laterally and partially visible anteriorly 

• Superior

• Lateral

• Inferior

• Angles of the scapula

lateral angle of scapula

angle is thick and contains the glenoid cavity

acromion process

articulates with acromial end of clavicle, lateral end of the scapular spine

CORACOID PROCESS (bent-finger-shaped process)

attachment point for biceps brachii muscle and ligament attachment to clavicle

suprascapular notch

nerve passageway

fossa

shallow depression

Arm or Brachium

is comprised of the HUMERUS (the largest and longest bone in the upper extremity). 

Arm or Brachium

Articulates with the scapula at the shoulder and with the radius and ulna at the elbow 

greater tubercle

large projection on the lateral edge of the epiphysis of the humerus, forming the lateral margin of the shoulder; attachment site for supraspinatus, infraspinatus, and teres minor muscles 

lesser tubercle

lies on the anterior and medial surface of the epiphysis, marking the insertion point of the subscapularis muscle 

deltoid tuberosity

elevated surface that runs along the lateral border of the shaft, extending more than halfway down its length; attachment site for the deltoid muscle 

articular condyle

dominates the distal, inferior surface of the humerus; a low ridge that divides the condyle into two distinct articular regions — the trochlea and the capitulum 

TROCHLEA (medial condyle)

spool-shaped medial portion that articulates with the ulna 

CAPITULUM (lateral condyle

rounded region that forms the lateral surface of the condyle, which articulates with the radius 

OLECRANON FOSSA (posterior)

articulates with olecranon process of ulna 

CORONOID FOSSA (anterior)

accepts projections, along with olecranon fossa, from the surface of the ulna as the elbow approaches full flexion or full extension 

radius and ulna

articulate with each other both proximally and distally at the PROXIMAL (1) and DISTAL (2) RADIOULNAR JOINTS, respectively

INTEROSSEOUS MEMBRANE

connects radius and ulna along their entire length 

supination

the radius (lateral) and the ulna (medial) are parallel 

pronation

the radius rotates medially over the ulna 

ulna is

Wide at the proximal end, then narrows at distal end; slightly longer than the radius 

ulna

Main function is to form the elbow joint with the humerus 

• medial

OLECRANON and CORONOID PROCESSES

separated by the trochlear or semilunar notch

OLECRANON and CORONOID PROCESSES

a deep concavit that grip the TROCHLEA of the HUMERUS and form a hinge joint, allowing flexion and extension movements 

radial notch

smooth depression where ulna articulates with head of radius 

Head of ulna

separated from the bones of the wrist by a disc of fibrocartilage; little or no role in hand movements 

styloid process

attachment site for ligament to the wrist 

radius

Thin at its proximal end and widened at its distal end — the opposite of the ulna 

-lateral

Head of radius

shaped like the end of a spool of thread 

radial tuberosity

attachment site for the biceps brachii muscle, which flexes (bends) the elbow, swinging the forearm toward the arm 

ULNAR NOTCH (medial

articulates with head of the ulna, forming the DISTAL RADIOULNAR JOINT 

STYLOID PROCESS (lateral)

• anchors ligament to wrist 

• Extreme distal end of radius is concave and articulates with carpal bones of the wrist. 

carpus (true wrist)

consists of eight marble-sized bones, called CARPALS, which are closely united by ligaments that are arranged in two irregular rows of four bones each: 

proximal row

LATERAL (thumb-side) to MEDIAL 

scaphoid

articulates with radius to form wrist joint

LUNATE (luna, moon)

comma-shaped; articulates with radius to form wrist joint 

Pisiform

Smallest, pea-shaped bone that lies anterior to the triquetrum and extends farther medially than any other carpal bone in both the proximal and distal rows 

Trapezium,

trapezoid,

capitate,

hamitate

Distal row bones

HAMATE (hamatum, hooked)

contains a hook-like projection

carpal tunnel syndrome

The concave wrist bones are anteriorly covered by a ligamentous band that forms a tunnel through which the median nerve and muscle tendons run; INFLAMMATION of any element in the carpal tunnel (from overuse) compresses the median nerve, thereby causing pain or numbness. 

Thumb phalanges

• PROXIMAL PHALANX

• DISTAL PHALANX  

Pelvic Girdle

attaches to axial skeleton by some of the strongest ligaments 

COXAL BONES ("hip bones" / also named as coxae or innominate bones)

each of which consist of three separate bones during childhood, which become fused in adults 

Y shaped junction

is formed where all 3 regions (ilium, ischium and pubis) meet 

Ilium

• superior region of coxal bone 

• Consists of an inferior (1) BODY and a superior, wing-like (2) ALA 

ILIAC CREST (thickened superior margin of ala

site of muscle attachment 

• Posterior Superior Iliac Spine 

• Anterior Superior Iliac Spine 

• Posterior Inferior Iliac Spine 

• Anterior Inferior Iliac Spine 

4 iliac spines are

Anterior Superior Iliac Spine 

Prominent anatomical landmark, which can be felt on the anterior of the hip. 

ACETABULUM (lateral)

• located at Y-shaped junction of ilium, ischium and pubis 

• Deep hemispherical socket that articulates with the ball-shaped head of the femur, forming the HIP JOINT 

GREATER SCIATIC NOTCH

• located posteriorly, just inferior to Posterior Inferior Iliac Spine 

A deep indentation through which the sciatic nerve passes, to enter the thigh 

ILIAC FOSSA (anteromedial)

concave internal surface of the iliac ALA 

Ischium

• posteroinferior region (L-shaped or arc-shaped) 

Consists of a thicker, superior BODY and thinner, inferior RAMUS

Ischial spine

• triangular projection, which is located posterior to the acetabulum and projects medially 

Attachment point for SACROSPINOUS LIGAMENT (from the sacrum and coccyx) 

LESSER SCIATIC NOTCH

• inferior to ischial spine 

Nerves and vessels that serve the perineum pass through this notch 

Ischial Tuberosity

rough, thickened area of inferior surface of ischial body 

Pubis

: forms anterior region of coxal bone 

Pubic Crest

thickened anterior border of pubic body 

OBTURATOR FORAMEN

• large opening between the pubis and the ischium 

• Few vessels and nerves pass through this opening 

• Foramen is almost completely closed by a fibrous obturator membrane 

PUBIC SYMPHYSIS or SYMPHYSIS PUBIS

a fibrocartilaginous disc that joins the two pubic bones 

Pubic Arch

formed by the inferior pubic rami and the ischial rami of both coxal bones 

 

angle of arch

helps to distinguish male from female pelves

Head of the femur

ball like proximal end

Neck of the femur

• The weakest part of the femur

• often fracture in a “broken hip”

Greater trochanter (lateral)

projects laterally from the junction of the neck and shaft

• attachment site for various tendons and muscles

Lesser trochanter( posteromedial)

originates on the posteromedial surface of the femur

• attachment site for various tendons and muscles

intertrochanterc crest (posterior)

interconnect the trochanters

gluteal tuberosity (lateral)

on posterior surface to the shaft

• Attachment site of gluteal muscle

linea aspera (posterior)

a prominent elevation located on posteroinferior surface on the shaft

attachment site for the powerful hip muscles, the adductor muscles

Medial and (13) LATERAL SUPRACONDYLAR RIDGE (posterior)

the linea aspera distally divides into these two ridges, to form a flattened triangular area, the POPLITEAL SURFACE 

LATERAL and (15) MEDIAL CONDYLES (posterior aspect)

distal broadened area of the femur, shaped like wagon wheels 

LATERAL and (17) MEDIAL EPICONDYLES

the most raised points on the sides of the condyles 

Ligament attachment sites 

adductor tubercle

bump on upper part of medial condyle 

INTERCONDYLAR FOSSA or NOTCH

separates the two condyles posteriorly 

tibia and fibula

comprise the bones of the leg

tibia

The medial bone of the leg 

INTERCONDYLAR Eminence

an irregular projection that separates the two condyles 

TIBIAL TUBEROSITY (anterior aspect)

attachment site for -PATELLAR LIGAMENT 

ANTERIOR BORDER or CREST

sharp subcutaneous anterior ridge on the tibial shaft 

medial malleolus

• inferior projection, which forms the MEDIAL BULGE of the ANKLE 

Articulates with the TALUS bone of the foot 

ARTICULAR SURFACE (distal aspect)

flat distal end of tibia, which articulates with TALUS of the foot also 

PROXIMAL TIBIOFIBULAR JOINT

in this joint, a facet on inferior part of LATERAL TIBIAL CONDYLE articulates with the FIBULA 

DISTAL TIBIOFBULAR JOINT

in this joint, the FIBULAR NOTCH on lateral side of distal tibia articulates with the fibula 

Fibula

thin, long bone with two expanded ends 

located lateral to the tibia

fibular head

superior, proximal end 

Lateral Malleolus

inferior projection which forms the LATERAL BULGE of the ANKLE 

Articulates with talus of the foot

The fibula

does not bear weight, but several muscles originate from it.

the TARSUS (ankle), the METATARSUS (distal portion of the foot), and the PHALANGES (digits or toes)

bones of the foot

Pes (or foot) function

Supports the body's weight

o Acts as a lever to propel body forward during walking and running 

hallux (great toe)

The MEDIAL side of the foot is the

tarsus

posterior ½ of the foot which contains 7 tarsal bones 

Talus (ankle part)

the second largest bone in the foot

o Transmits body weight from the tibia anteriorly, toward the toes

calcaneus

forms the heel of the foot

o The largest of the tarsal bones