Human Skeletal System – Major Bones & Landmarks

47 question-and-answer flashcards covering major bones and bony landmarks of the human skeleton.

Which cranial bone forms the forehead and the roofs of the eye sockets?

Frontal bone

What is the upper jaw bone that also forms part of the hard palate?

Maxilla

Which movable bone forms the lower jaw?

Mandible

What is the collective name for the first seven vertebrae of the spine (C1–C7)?

Cervical vertebrae

Which flat, triangular bone is commonly called the shoulder blade?

Scapula

Which flat bone lies in the center of the chest and connects to the ribs via costal cartilage?

Sternum

What is the long bone of the upper arm, extending from shoulder to elbow?

Humerus

What is the name for the five vertebrae (L1–L5) located in the lower back?

Lumbar vertebrae

Which large, flaring portion of the hip bone forms the superior part of the pelvis?

Ilium

What small, triangular bone is located at the very end of the vertebral column?

Coccyx (tailbone)

What is the collective name for the eight small bones that form the wrist?

Carpals

Which long bone of the thigh is the largest and strongest bone in the body?

Femur

What small, triangular bone sits in front of the knee joint and is commonly known as the kneecap?

Patella

Which larger of the two lower-leg bones is often called the shinbone?

Tibia

What is the collective name for the seven bones that make up the ankle?

Tarsals

Which bones form the arch of the foot between the tarsals and phalanges?

Metatarsals

What is the collective term for the five bones located in the palm of the hand?

Metacarpals

Which ribs (usually pairs 8–10) attach indirectly to the sternum via cartilage?

False ribs

Which ribs (usually pairs 11 and 12) have no anterior attachment to the sternum?

Floating ribs

Which paired cranial bones form most of the sides and roof of the skull?

Parietal bones

Which butterfly-shaped cranial bone lies at the base of the skull and houses the sella turcica?

Sphenoid bone

What S-shaped bone, also called the collarbone, connects the sternum to the scapula?

Clavicle

Which ribs (pairs 1–7) attach directly to the sternum via costal cartilage?

True ribs

Which forearm bone is located on the thumb side when the palm faces forward?

Radius

Which forearm bone is located on the little-finger side when the palm faces forward?

Ulna

Which triangular bone forms the posterior part of the pelvis between the two hip bones?

Sacrum

Which curved, lower-posterior part of the hip bone bears body weight when sitting?

Ischium

Which slender bone runs parallel and lateral to the tibia in the lower leg?

Fibula

Which heel bone is the largest tarsal and forms the foundation of the rear foot?

Calcaneus

What is the collective name for the bones of the fingers and toes?

Phalanges

Which cranial bone forms the back and base of the skull and contains the foramen magnum?

Occipital bone

Which small, paired bones form the bridge of the nose?

Nasal bones

Which bony arch of the cheek is formed by connections of the zygomatic and temporal bones?

Zygomatic arch

What term describes the bony cavity that houses the eyeball?

Orbit (orbital cavity)

Which small cartilaginous extension forms the inferior tip of the sternum?

Xiphoid process

Which anterior portion of the hip bone forms the pubic symphysis when joined to its mate?

Pubis

What is the collective term for the twelve vertebrae (T1–T12) that articulate with the ribs?

Thoracic vertebrae

Which paired facial bones form the prominence of the cheeks and part of the eye orbit?

Zygomatic bones

Which thin, plow-shaped bone forms the lower part of the nasal septum?

Vomer

Which delicate cranial bone contains the cribriform plate and forms part of the nasal cavity?

Ethmoid bone

Which small, paired bones form part of the medial wall of each orbit and contain a tear duct groove?

Lacrimal bones

Which scroll-like bones (inferior nasal ___) help create air turbulence inside the nasal cavity?

Conchae (inferior nasal conchae)

Which cranial bone lies inferior to the parietal bone and houses the structures of the inner ear?

Temporal bone

Which rounded prominence behind the ear on the temporal bone serves as a muscle attachment site?

Mastoid process

What external opening in the temporal bone leads to the ear canal?

External acoustic (auditory) meatus

Which second cervical vertebra (C2) allows rotation of the head thanks to its odontoid process (dens)?

Axis

Which first cervical vertebra (C1) supports the skull and allows nodding motion?

Atlas