Skeletal System Anatomy: Vertebral Column, Appendicular Skeleton, and Skull

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering anatomical terms, features, and composite structures of the human vertebral column, thoracic cage, upper appendicular skeleton, and skull.

Intervertebral disk

Cartilage located between every vertebrae.

Atlas

The C-1 cervical vertebra.

Axis

The C-2 cervical vertebra, which features the dens or odontoid process.

Cervical vertebrae

The 7 neck vertebrae, characterized by having a transverse foramen.

Thoracic vertebrae

The 12 vertebrae associated with the ribs, described in appearance as a giraffe.

Lumbar vertebrae

The 5 vertebrae located in the lower back, described in appearance as a moose.

Sacrum

A group of 5 fused vertebrae located above the tail bone.

Coccyx

A group of 4 fused vertebrae commonly known as the tail bone.

Manubrium

The top plate of the sternum.

Gladiolus

The middle body section of the sternum.

Xiphoid process

The bottom portion of the sternum.

True ribs

Rib pairs 1 through 7, also known as vertebrosternal ribs.

False ribs

Rib pairs 8 through 10, also known as vertebrochondral ribs.

Floating false ribs

Rib pairs 11 through 12, also known as vertebral ribs.

Costal cartilage

All cartilage located in front of the ribs.

Clavicle

The collar bone.

Scapula

The shoulder blade, featuring the spine, glenoid cavity or fossa, acromion process, and coracoid process.

Glenoid cavity or fossa

The arm attachment socket on the scapula.

Acromion process

The flat part of the ridge on the scapula.

Coracoid process

The sticking-out edge located below on the scapula.

Olecranon fossa

The back thumb imprint depression on the humerus.

Coronoid fossa

The smaller front thumb imprint depression on the humerus.

Semilunar or trochlear notch

A shoe-shaped notch on the ulna that forms a joint with another bone.

Foramen magnum

The big hole in the occipital bone of the skull.

External auditory meatus

The ear tunnel located in the temporal bone.

Zygomatic arch

A composite structure formed by the temporal process of the zygomatic bone and the zygomatic process of the temporal bone.

Hard palate

A composite structure formed by the palatine bones and the palatine process of the maxilla.

Nasal septum

A composite structure formed by the vomer (bottom half) and the perpendicular plate of the ethmoid bone (top half).

Sella turcica

A structure on the sphenoid bone described as the saddle of the bat, which contains the hypophyseal fossa seat.

Crista galli

A structure on the ethmoid bone sticking up inside the skull.

Cribriform plate

A region of the ethmoid bone containing lots of holes.

Hyoid

A bone that floats in the throat.

Sagittal suture

The suture located along the center of the skull joining the parietal bones.

Coronal suture

The suture joining the frontal bone and the parietal bones.

Lambdoidal suture

The suture joining the parietal bones and the occipital bone.

Squamosal suture

The suture joining the temporal bone and the parietal bone.

Mental foramen

A thin ring or hole located on the chin of the mandible.