Marieb Human Anatomy & Physiology Twelfth Edition Chapter 07: The Skeleton

Vocabulary flashcards covering key anatomical terms, bone markings, features, regions, and related clinical conditions from Marieb Human Anatomy & Physiology 12th Edition Chapter 7: The Skeleton.

Axial Skeleton

The central core division of the skeletal system consisting of 80 bones divided into the skull, vertebral column, and thoracic cage, functioning to support the head, neck, and trunk, protect vital organs, and form the longitudinal axis.

Cranial Vault (Calvaria)

The superior, lateral, and posterior portion of the skull, including the forehead, that encloses the brain within the cranial cavity.

Cranial Base

The inferior aspect of the skull, internally divided into the anterior, middle, and posterior cranial fossae where the brain sits.

Coronal Suture

The serrated articulation on the skull formed between the frontal bone and the two parietal bones.

Sagittal Suture

The median cranial suture located superiorly between the right and left parietal bones.

Lambdoid Suture

The posterior cranial suture that marks the articulation between the parietal bones and the occipital bone.

Squamous Suture

The suture on each lateral side of the skull located between a parietal bone and a temporal bone.

Frontal Bone

The shell-shaped cranial bone that forms the forehead, the superior wall of the orbits, and most of the anterior cranial fossa.

Glabella

The smooth area of the frontal bone located directly between the orbits, just superior to the frontonasal suture.

Foramen Magnum

The large opening in the base of the occipital bone through which the brainstem connects with the spinal cord.

Occipital Condyles

A pair of curved articular processes flanking the foramen magnum that articulate with the atlas ($C_1$) vertebra to allow head nodding.

External Occipital Protuberance

A prominent midline protrusion on the outer surface of the occipital bone, located superior to the foramen magnum.

Petrous Part of Temporal Bone

The dense, wedge-shaped region of the temporal bone in the cranial base that houses the middle and internal ear cavities.

Jugular Foramen

A large passage at the junction of the temporal and occipital bones that allows passage of the internal jugular vein and cranial nerves IX, X, and XI.

Carotid Canal

A passageway penetrating the petrous part of the temporal bone that transmits the internal carotid artery into the cranial cavity.

Mastoiditis

An infection of the mastoid air cells within the mastoid process of the temporal bone, which poses a risk of spreading to the brain due to proximity across a thin bony wall.

Sphenoid Bone

The complex, bat-shaped keystone bone of the cranium that articulates with all other cranial bones and contains the sella turcica.

Sella Turcica

A saddle-shaped prominence on the superior surface of the sphenoid body, featuring a hypophyseal fossa that houses the pituitary gland.

Ethmoid Bone

The deepest skull bone located between the nasal cavity and orbits, featuring cribriform plates, the crista galli, a perpendicular plate, and ethmoidal air cells.

Crista Galli

A triangular, ridge-like process projecting superiorly from the cribriform plate of the ethmoid bone that serves as an attachment point for the brain's dura mater.

Perpendicular Plate of Ethmoid Bone

The thin, vertical bony partition projecting inferiorly from the ethmoid bone that forms the superior portion of the nasal septum.

Mandible

The U-shaped lower jawbone, consisting of a horizontal body and two upright rami, which represents the largest, strongest, and only movable bone of the face.

Coronoid Process of Mandible

The anterior, flattened projection on the superior end of each mandibular ramus that serves as the insertion site for the temporalis muscle.

Maxillary Bones (Maxillae)

A pair of fused keystone facial bones forming the upper jaw, central facial skeleton, anterior two-thirds of the hard palate, and parts of the orbits and nasal cavity.

Zygomatic Bones

Paired facial bones commonly called cheekbones that form the prominent cheeks and inferolateral margins of the orbits.

Lacrimal Fossae

Depressions located in the lacrimal bones that house the lacrimal sacs, allowing tears to drain into the nasal cavity.

Palatine Bones

Paired L-shaped facial bones whose horizontal plates form the posterior one-third of the hard palate and perpendicular plates contribute to the nasal cavity and orbits.

Vomer

A plow-shaped facial bone located along the midline that forms the inferior portion of the bony nasal septum.

Hyoid Bone

A U-shaped bone located in the anterior neck inferior to the mandible that does not articulate directly with any other bone and serves as a base for the tongue and swallowing muscles.

Paranasal Sinuses

Mucosa-lined, air-filled cavities within the frontal, sphenoid, ethmoid, and maxillary bones that lighten the skull, warm and humidify air, and enhance voice resonance.

Vertebral Column

A flexible, curved structure extending from the skull to the pelvis consisting of 26 irregular bones divided into cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal regions.

Scoliosis

An abnormal lateral rotation and curvature of the spine, occurring most frequently in the thoracic region.

Kyphosis

An accentuated dorsally exaggerated thoracic curvature of the spine, commonly known as hunchback.

Lordosis

An accentuated lumbar curvature of the spine, commonly referred to as swayback.

Ligamentum Flavum

A strong, elastic connective tissue ligament that connects the laminae of adjacent vertebrae along the spinal column.

Nucleus Pulposus

The inner gelatinous core of an intervertebral disc that provides elasticity and compressibility.

Anulus Fibrosus

The outer ring of collagen and fibrocartilage surrounding the nucleus pulposus of an intervertebral disc, limiting its expansion during compression.

Herniated Disc

A condition resulting from the rupture of the anulus fibrosus, causing protrusion of the inner nucleus pulposus into the vertebral canal or against spinal nerves.

Vertebral Foramen

The central opening formed by the vertebral body and vertebral arch that encloses and protects the spinal cord.

Atlas ($C_1$)

The first cervical vertebra, lacking a body and spinous process, consisting of ring-like arches and lateral masses that articulate with the occipital condyles to enable head nodding.

Axis ($C_2$)

The second cervical vertebra featuring a prominent upright toothlike process called the dens, which acts as a pivot point for rotation of the atlas.

Dens (Odontoid Process)

A knoblike vertical projection of the axis ($C_2$) that extends into the anterior arch of the atlas ($C_1$), allowing side-to-side rotation of the head.

Vertebra Prominens ($C_7$)

The seventh cervical vertebra, characterized by an exceptionally large, non-bifid spinous process that can easily be felt through the skin at the base of the neck.

Sacral Promontory

The prominent anterior margin of the first sacral vertebra ($S_1$) body that juts forward into the pelvic cavity.

Sternum

The flat bone of the anterior midline thorax, commonly called the breastbone, consisting of the manubrium, body, and xiphoid process.

True Ribs (Vertebrosternal Ribs)

Rib pairs 1 through 7 that attach directly to the sternum by their own individual costal cartilages.

False Ribs (Vertebrochondral Ribs)

Rib pairs 8 through 10 that attach indirectly to the sternum by fusing their costal cartilages with the costal cartilage of the rib directly above them.

Floating Ribs (Vertebral Ribs)

Rib pairs 11 and 12 that have no anterior attachment to the sternum or costal cartilages.

Costal Groove

A trench along the inner inferior surface of a rib shaft that accommodates and protects intercostal nerves and blood vessels.

Pectoral Girdle

The chest skeleton structure formed by a clavicle anteriorly and a scapula posteriorly, attaching the upper limbs to the axial skeleton.

Clavicle

An S-shaped bone, commonly known as the collarbone, that articulates medially with the manubrium and laterally with the acromion of the scapula.

Glenoid Cavity

A shallow fossa located on the lateral angle of the scapula that articulates with the head of the humerus to form the shoulder joint.

Acromion

The flattened, enlarged lateral projection at the end of the spine of the scapula that articulates with the acromial end of the clavicle.

Coracoid Process of Scapula

A hooklike anterior projection on the superior border of the scapula that helps anchor muscles of the upper arm, including the biceps brachii.

Surgical Neck of Humerus

The constricted region of the humerus located immediately inferior to the greater and lesser tubercles, named for its frequency of fracture.

Deltoid Tuberosity

A roughened V-shaped ridge located laterally midway down the shaft of the humerus, serving as the attachment site for the deltoid muscle.

Trochlea

A grooved, spool-like condyle at the distal end of the humerus that articulates with the trochlear notch of the ulna.

Capitulum

A rounded, ball-like condyle on the distal lateral surface of the humerus that articulates with the head of the radius.

Olecranon Process

A prominent elbow projection located on the posterior proximal end of the ulna that fits into the olecranon fossa of the humerus when the forearm is extended.

Radial Tuberosity

A roughened oval prominence on the medial aspect of the proximal radius shaft that anchors the biceps muscle tendon.

Colles' Fracture

A common fracture of the distal end of the radius, frequently occurring when attempting to cushion a forward fall with an outstretched arm.

Carpus

The skeleton of the wrist comprising 8 short carpal bones arranged in two transverse rows of four bones each.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

A condition caused by inflammation and swelling of tendons passing through the carpal tunnel, compressing the median nerve and resulting in tingling and numbness.

Pollex

The anatomical term for digit 1 of the hand, commonly known as the thumb, which contains only two phalanges (proximal and distal).

Acetabulum

The deep, cup-like socket located at the point of fusion of the ilium, ischium, and pubis that receives the head of the femur to form the hip joint.

Ischial Tuberosity

A thick, roughened area on the inferior portion of the ischium that supports body weight when sitting.

Pubic Symphysis

A fibrocartilaginous joint located anteriorly along the midline where the two pubic bones unite.

Pelvic Brim (Pelvic Inlet)

A continuous oval ridge defined by the pubic crest, arcuate line of the ilium, and sacral promontory, separating the false pelvis superiorly from the true pelvis inferiorly.

Femur

The sole bone of the thigh and the largest, longest, and strongest bone in the human body, accounting for approximately one-fourth of height.

Fovea Capitis

A small, central pit in the head of the femur that serves as an attachment point for a ligament connecting to the acetabulum.

Patella

A triangular sesamoid bone enclosed within the quadriceps muscle tendon that protects the knee joint anteriorly.

Tibia

The large, weight-bearing medial bone of the leg that articulates proximally with the femur and distally with the talus.

Medial Malleolus

An inferior projection at the distal end of the tibia that forms the medial bulge of the ankle.

Lateral Malleolus

The enlarged distal extremity of the fibula that forms the lateral bulge of the ankle.

Bimalleolar Fracture

A common sports injury involving a fracture across the distal ends of both the tibia and the fibula.

Calcaneus

The tarsal bone forming the heel of the foot, which carries body weight and provides an anchor for the Achilles tendon.

Hallux

The anatomical term for digit 1 of the foot, commonly known as the great toe or big toe, which contains two phalanges.

Arches of the Foot

The three resilient anatomical structures (medial longitudinal, lateral longitudinal, and transverse arches) formed by interlocking foot bones, ligaments, and tendons that distribute body weight.

Pes Planus

A condition commonly known as flat foot or fallen arches, where the arches of the foot collapse, caused by congenital factors, aging, obesity, or overuse.

Fontanelles

Unossified fibrous membrane remnants in the skull of a newborn infant that allow head compression during birth and accommodate rapid brain growth.

Cleft Palate

A congenital defect caused by the failure of the right and left palatine processes of the maxillae and/or palatine bones to fuse medially, leading to sucking difficulties and potential aspiration pneumonia.

Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (DDH)

A congenital condition occurring in up to 2% of newborns characterized by partial or complete dislocation of the femoral head and an underdeveloped acetabulum.