Human Skeletal System and Medical Specialties

Flashcards covering the detailed structure of the human axial and appendicular skeletons, including specific bone names, counts, and anatomical landmarks, as well as relevant medical specialties.

How many bones typically make up an adult human skeleton?

Approximately $206$ bones, though the exact number can range from $206$ to $350$ depending on the individual's age.

What are the two major divisions of the human skeleton?

The axial and appendicular skeletal systems.

Which organs does the axial skeleton primarily protect?

The major organs of the nervous, respiratory, and circulatory systems.

How many bones comprise the axial skeleton and what are its five parts?

It consists of $80$ bones organized into the skull, the ossicles of the middle ear, the hyoid bone, the rib cage, and the vertebral column.

What functions does the appendicular skeleton perform?

It makes body movement possible and protects the organs of digestion, excretion, and reproduction.

How many bones are in the appendicular skeleton?

$126$ bones.

What is the definition of an extremity?

The terminal end of a body part such as an arm or a leg.

What is an appendage?

Anything that is attached to a major part of the body

What is the total bone count of the skull and its components?

The skull consists of $28$ bones: $8$ bones from the cranium, $14$ facial bones, and $6$ bones in the middle ear.

How are the cranial bones joined together?

By jagged fibrous joints often referred to as sutures.

Which bone forms the forehead and houses the frontal sinuses?

The frontal bone.

Which bone forms the roof of the ethmoid sinuses, the nose and part of the socket that protects the eyeball?

The frontal bone

Which bones form the roof and upper sides of the cranium?

The two parietal bones.

Which bones form the back part of the skull and the base of the cranium?

The occipital bone

What is the name of the opening of the external auditory canal located within the temporal bone?

The external auditory meatus.

Which irregular wedge-shaped bone at the base of the skull makes contact with all other cranial bones?

The sphenoid bone.

What bone helps form the base of the cranium, the side of the scale, and the floors and sides of the eye socke?

The Sphenoid bone

What is the function of the ethmoid bone?

It separates the nasal cavity from the brain and forms a portion of each orbit.

What are the three tiny auditory ossicles?

The malleus, incus, and stapes.

The face is made up of how many bones?

14

What two bones form most of the upper jaw?

The maxillary bones

Which facial bones are commonly known as the cheekbones?

The two zygomatic bones.

Which facial bones form the interior part of the hard palate of the mouth and the floor of the nose?

The two Palatine bones

Which facial bones are the thin, scroll like bones that form part of the interior of the nose?

The two inferior conchae bones

What is the name of the bone that forms the base for the nasal septum?

The vomer bone.

What is the only movable bone of the skull and where does it attach?

The mandible (jawbone), which attaches at the temporomandibular joint ($TMJ$).

What structures make up the thoracic cavity, also known as the rib cage?

The ribs, sternum, and upper portion of the spinal column.

Differentiate between true ribs, false ribs, and floating ribs based on their attachment.

True ribs (first $7$ pairs) attach anteriorly to the sternum; false ribs (next $3$ pairs) attach to cartilage; floating ribs (last $2$ pairs) are only attached posteriorly to the vertebrae.

What are the three parts of the sternum?

The manubrium (upper portion), the body or gladiolus (middle portion), and the xiphoid process (lower cartilaginous portion).

What is another name for the collarbone?

The clavicle.

What does the pectoral girdle support?

The arms and the hands

What is a slender bone that connects the manubrium of the sternum to the scapula?

The clavicle

What bone is also known as the shoulder blade?

The scapula

What bone is an extension of the scapula that forms the high point of the shoulder?

The acromion

What does the term olecranon refer to?

Commonly known as the funny bone, it is the large proximal tip of the ulna that forms the point of the elbow.

What is the humerus?

The bone of the upper arm

What is the smaller and shorter bone in the forearm that runs up the thumb side of the forearm?

The radius

What is the larger and longer bone of the forearm?

The ulna

The proximal end of the —- articulates with the distal end of the _____ to form the elbow joint

Ulna, humerus

How many carpals, metacarpals, and phalanges are found in one hand?

$8$ carpals, $5$ metacarpals, and $14$ phalanges.

Define the vertebral foramen.

The opening in the middle of the vertebra that allows the spinal cord to pass through.

What are the names and counts of the three main sets of vertebrae?

Cervical ($C1$ through $C7$), thoracic ($T1$ through $T12$), and lumbar ($L1$ through $L5$).

What protects the spinal cord and supports the head and body?

The spinal column or vertebral column

How many vertebrae are in the spinal column?

26

What is solid provide strength and is the name for the interior portion of the vertebra?

The body of the vertabra

What is the posterior portion of a vertebra known as?

The lamina

What is made of cartilage and pads of tissue, separate and cushion the vertebrae from each other and allow for movement of the spinal column?

Intervertebral discs

The inner core of intervertebral discs, which are made up of a soft gelatinous material that allows intervertebral discs to act as shock absorbers are known as?

Nucleus pulposus

What are the first set of seven vertebrae and form the neck?

The cervical vertebrae (C1 through C7)

What are the second set of 12 vertebrae that has a pair of ribs attached to each one and form the outward curve of the spine?

The thoracic vertebrae (T1 through T12)

Describe the sacrum and the coccyx.

The sacrum is a triangular bone near the base of the spine (fused from $5$ bones), and the coccyx (tailbone) forms the end of the spine (made of $4$ fused vertebrae).

What three bones fuse to form the pubic bones in an adult?

The ilium, ischium, and pubis.

What is the acetabulum?

Also known as the hip socket, it is the large circular cavity in the pelvis that articulates with the head of the femur.

Which bone is the largest in the body and is also known as the thigh bone?

The femur.

What is the term for the posterior space behind the knee?

The popliteal.

Distinguish between the tibia and the fibula.

The tibia (shinbone) is the larger anterior weight-bearing bone, while the fibula is the smaller bone of the lower leg.

What is the largest of the tarsal bones?

The calcaneus, also known as the heel bone.

What is the specialty of a chiropractor?

The manipulative treatment of disorders originating from misalignment of the spine.

How does a podiatrist differ from a rheumatologist?

A podiatrist specializes in foot disorders, while a rheumatologist specializes in arthritis and disorders characterized by inflammation in joints and connective tissues.