Skeletal System Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering the human skeletal system, including bone markings, division features, skull anatomical structures, vertebrae, limbs, and joint components.

Compact Bone

Bone tissue characterized by structural units called osteons, central canals, interstitial lamellae, osteocytes in lacunae, and cement lines.

Spongy Bone

Bone tissue composed of mesh-like trabeculae and marrow cavities.

Axial Skeleton

The skeletal division comprising the skull, hyoid bone, vertebral column, and thoracic cage.

Appendicular Skeleton

The skeletal division consisting of the bones of the upper and lower limbs, as well as the pectoral and pelvic girdles.

Skull Sutures

Immovable fibrous joints connecting skull bones, including the coronal, sagittal, squamous, and lambdoid sutures.

Frontal Bone

Anterior bone of the skull forming the forehead and superior portion of the eye sockets (orbits).

Parietal Bones

Paired cranial bones forming the superior and lateral roof of the skull.

Temporal Bone

Cranial bone on the lateral side of the skull containing the external acoustic meatus, zygomatic process, styloid process, and mastoid process.

External Acoustic Meatus

The external ear canal opening located on the temporal bone.

Zygomatic Process

A projection of the temporal bone extending anteriorly to articulate with the zygomatic bone.

Styloid Process

A slender, pointed projection extending inferiorly from the temporal bone.

Mastoid Process

A rounded prominence on the temporal bone located posterior to the external acoustic meatus.

Occipital Bone

Posterior cranial bone featuring the occipital condyles and foramen magnum.

Occipital Condyles

Rounded articular processes on the inferior occipital bone that articulate with the first cervical vertebra (atlas).

Foramen Magnum

Large opening at the base of the occipital bone through which the spinal cord passes.

Sphenoid Bone

Central keystone bone of the cranium consisting of a body, greater and lesser wings, sella turcica, and sphenoidal sinus.

Sella Turcica

Saddle-like depression on the superior surface of the sphenoid body housing the pituitary gland.

Sphenoid Foramina

Passageways in the sphenoid bone including the optic canal, superior orbital fissure, foramen rotundum, foramen ovale, and foramen spinosum.

Ethmoid Bone

Cranial bone positioned between the orbits forming part of the anterior cranial fossa, nasal septum, and nasal cavity walls.

Crista Galli

A superior crest-like projection of the ethmoid bone that serves as an attachment site for brain coverings.

Cribriform Plate

Perforated horizontal bony plate of the ethmoid bone that transmits olfactory nerve fibers.

Perpendicular Plate of Ethmoid

Thin vertical bony plate of the ethmoid bone forming the superior portion of the nasal septum.

Ethmoidal Cells

Air-filled sinus cavities located within the ethmoid bone superior to the nasal cavity.

Middle Nasal Conchae

Scroll-like bony projections extending into the nasal cavity from the ethmoid bone.

Maxillae

Paired bones forming the upper jaw, central face, and anterior hard palate.

Palatine Bones

Paired bones forming the posterior portion of the hard palate and parts of the nasal cavity floor.

Zygomatic Bones

Paired cheekbones forming the lateral walls and floors of the eye sockets.

Lacrimal Bones

Small paired facial bones located in the medial wall of each orbit containing a fossa for the lacrimal sac.

Nasal Bones

Paired rectangular bones forming the bridge of the nose.

Inferior Nasal Conchae

Separate paired scroll-shaped bones located along the lateral walls of the nasal cavity.

Vomer

Thin vertical bone forming the posterior and inferior portion of the nasal septum.

Mandible

The lower jawbone consisting of a horizontal body and two vertical rami.

Condylar Process

Posterior process on the superior mandibular ramus that articulates at the temporomandibular joint.

Coronoid Process

Anterior projection on the superior aspect of the mandibular ramus serving for muscle attachment.

Mental Foramen

Anterolateral opening on the mandibular body for nerve and blood vessel passage.

Hyoid Bone

U-shaped neck bone consisting of a body, greater horns, and lesser horns, which does not directly articulate with any other bone.

Typical Vertebra Structure

Anatomy consisting of an anterior body, pedicles, laminae, transverse processes, a spinous process, vertebral foramen, and articular facets.

Atlas

The first cervical vertebra (C1), which articulates with the occipital condyles of the skull.

Axis

The second cervical vertebra (C2), characterized by a vertical projection called the dens.

Dens of Axis

Tooth-like process (odontoid process) extending superiorly from the axis to articulate with the atlas.

Intervertebral Discs

Fibrocartilaginous pads positioned between adjacent vertebral bodies.

Cervical Vertebrae

The group of 7 vertebrae located in the neck region (C1-C7).

Thoracic Vertebrae

The group of 12 vertebrae (T1-T12) in the upper back that articulate with the ribs.

Lumbar Vertebrae

The 5 sturdy vertebrae (L1-L5) forming the lower back support.

Sacrum

Structure formed by 5 fused sacral vertebrae posterior to the pelvic cavity.

Coccyx

The tailbone, composed of fused small vertebrae inferior to the sacrum.

Sternum

Breastbone consisting of the manubrium, body, and xiphoid process, marked by the jugular notch and sternal angle.

Costal Cartilages

Hyaline cartilage structures connecting ribs to the sternum.

True Ribs

Rib pairs 1 through 7 that attach directly to the sternum via costal cartilages.

False Ribs

Rib pairs 8 through 12 that lack direct individual attachment to the sternum.

Floating Ribs

Rib pairs 11 and 12, a subset of false ribs that have no anterior attachment.

Pectoral Girdle

Bony structure attaching upper limbs to the axial skeleton, comprising the clavicle and scapula.

Clavicle

S-shaped collarbone extending horizontally between the sternum and scapula.

Scapula

Flat triangular shoulder blade featuring the acromion process, glenoid cavity, spine, inferior angle, medial border, and superior angle.

Acromion Process

Lateral extension of the scapular spine forming the high tip of the shoulder.

Glenoid Cavity

Shallow lateral socket of the scapula that articulates with the humerus head.

Humerus

Upper arm bone featuring a head, surgical neck, anatomical neck, greater/lesser tubercles, intertubercular sulcus, olecranon fossa, trochlea, and capitulum.

Radius

Lateral forearm bone featuring a disc-shaped head, radial tuberosity, and styloid process.

Ulna

Medial forearm bone featuring the proximal olecranon process and distal styloid process.

Interosseous Membrane

Fibrous connective tissue membrane connecting parallel long bones, such as the radius and ulna or tibia and fibula.

Carpals

The 8 wrist bones comprising the capitate, hamate, lunate, pisiform, scaphoid, trapezium, trapezoid, and triquetrum.

Metacarpals

The 5 bones of the palm labeled I to V from thumb to little finger side.

Phalanges

Digit bones in hands and feet grouped into proximal, middle, and distal phalanges.

Pelvis

Bony basin formed by paired hip bones (ilium, ischium, pubis) and sacrum, featuring the iliac crest, iliac fossa, obturator foramen, pelvic inlet, and subpubic angle.

Femur

Thigh bone featuring a head, neck, greater and lesser trochanters, intertrochanteric crest/line, gluteal tuberosity, linea aspera, shaft, epicondyles, condyles, intercondylar fossa, and patellar surface.

Patella

Kneecap bone featuring a superior base, inferior apex, and posterior articular surface.

Tibia

Medial leg bone featuring an intercondylar eminence, tibial tuberosity, medial and lateral condyles, shaft, anterior crest, and medial malleolus.

Fibula

Slender lateral leg bone featuring a proximal head, shaft, and distal lateral malleolus.

Tarsal Bones

Ankle bones comprising the talus, calcaneus, cuboid, navicular, and medial, intermediate, and lateral cuneiforms.

Temporomandibular Joint

Synovial joint formed between the mandibular fossa of the temporal bone and the condylar process of the mandible, containing an articular disc.

Glenohumeral Joint

Shoulder joint formed by the humeral head articulating with the scapular glenoid cavity, encapsulated by a fibrous capsule and stabilizing tendons.

Anular Ligament

Ring-like ligament surrounding the head of the radius at the elbow joint.

Tibial Collateral Ligament

Medial collateral ligament of the knee stabilizing against medial joint stress.

Fibular Collateral Ligament

Lateral collateral ligament of the knee extending to the head of the fibula.

Anterior Cruciate Ligament

Internal knee ligament preventing anterior sliding of the tibia relative to the femur.

Posterior Cruciate Ligament

Internal knee ligament preventing posterior displacement of the tibia relative to the femur.

Medial and Lateral Menisci

Crescent-shaped fibrocartilaginous pads situated on the tibial articular surfaces in the knee.

Calcaneal Tendon

Achilles tendon connecting calf musculature to the heel bone (calcaneus).