Skeleton Anatomy - Module 3 Lab Check-off

Vocabulary flashcards covering bone types, long bones, vertebrae, skull features, girdles, limbs, wrist/hand, foot/ankle, pelvis, hyoid, and ribs.

Flat bones

Thin, flat bones that are usually curved and protect organs; examples include many skull bones.

Long bones

Bones longer than they are wide that primarily support weight and facilitate movement (e.g., femur, humerus).

Short bones

Cube-shaped bones with roughly equal length and width, providing stability with limited movement (e.g., carpals and tarsals).

Irregular bones

Bones with complex shapes that don’t fit other categories (e.g., vertebrae and some facial bones).

Diaphysis

The shaft of a long bone, composed mostly of compact bone surrounding the medullary (marrow) cavity.

Epiphysis

The ends of a long bone, made of spongy bone and covered with articular cartilage.

Metaphysis

Region between the diaphysis and epiphysis where growth occurs; in adults, this region becomes the metaphysis.

Epiphyseal Plate/Line

Cartilaginous growth plate in children; in adults, the epiphyseal line remains after growth stops.

Body (vertebra)

The anterior, weight-bearing portion of a vertebra.

Spinous Process

Posterior projection of a vertebra for muscle and ligament attachment.

Transverse Process

Lateral projections on each side of a vertebra for muscle attachment and articular connections.

Facet

Joint surface on a vertebra where it articulates with adjacent vertebrae.

Cervical – C1 (atlas)

First cervical vertebra that supports the skull; ring-shaped and lacks a true body.

Cervical – C2 (axis)

Second cervical vertebra with the dens acting as a pivot for the atlas.

Dens

Peg-like projection on C2 (axis) that forms the pivot point for the atlas.

Thoracic

Mid-thoracic vertebrae (T1–T12) bearing facets for rib articulation.

Lumbar

Lower back vertebrae with large, sturdy bodies for weight bearing.

Sacrum (1-5)

Fused bones forming the posterior part of the pelvis; consists of sacral segments S1–S5.

Coccyx

Tailbone; small, fused vertebrae at the base of the spine.

Manubrium

Upper portion of the sternum that articulates with the clavicles and first ribs.

Body (sternum)

Central portion of the sternum that articulates with ribs via costal cartilage.

Xiphoid Process

Inferior, small cartilaginous tip of the sternum that ossifies with age.

Frontal

Bone forming the forehead and the anterior cranial roof.

Parietal

Paired bones forming the superior and lateral aspects of the cranium.

Temporal

Paired bones forming the inferior sides of the cranium and housing the ear structures.

Occipital

Posterior bone of the skull; contains the foramen magnum.

Sphenoid

Butterfly-shaped bone at the base of the skull forming part of the eye sockets.

Ethmoid

Light, spongy bone between the eyes; contributes to the nasal cavity and orbits.

Maxilla

Upper jaw bone that forms much of the floor of the orbit and the nasal cavity.

Mandible

Lower jaw bone; the only movable bone of the skull.

Nasal

Small bones forming the bridge of the nose.

Lacrimal

Small bones forming part of the medial wall of the eye socket.

Palatine

Bones forming part of the posterior hard palate and nasal cavity floor.

Zygomatic

Cheekbones; form the lateral wall of the orbit.

Coronal Suture

Joint between the frontal bone and the two parietal bones.

Sagittal Suture

Midline joint between the two parietal bones.

Lamboid Suture

Suture between the parietal bones and the occipital bone (note: spelled as in notes).

Squamous Suture

Suture between the temporal bone and the parietal bone.

Foramen Magnum

Large opening at the skull base through which the spinal cord passes.

Mastoid Process

Bony projection behind the ear; attachment for neck muscles.

External Occipital Protuberance (EOP)

Bump on the external surface of the occipital bone; attachment point for ligaments.

Crista Galli

Vertical projection of the ethmoid bone; attachment site for the falx cerebri.

Sella Turcica

Saddle-shaped depression in the sphenoid bone; houses the pituitary gland.

Cribiform Plate

Olfactory foramina in the ethmoid bone that transmit smell nerves.

Spine (scapula)

Prominent ridge running along the posterior surface of the scapula.

Medial Border

Edge of the scapula nearest the vertebral column.

Lateral Border

Edge of the scapula farther from the vertebral column.

Supraspinous Fossa

Fossa located above the scapular spine.

Subscapular Fossa

Concave anterior surface of the scapula against the rib cage.

Infraspinous Fossa

Fossa located below the scapular spine.

Glenoid Cavity

Socket that articulates with the humeral head.

Acromion Process

Acromial extension of the scapula forming the shoulder tip.

Coracoid Process

Hook-like projection for muscle attachment on the scapula.

Inferior Angle

Bottom angle of the scapula.

Superior Angle

Top angle of the scapula.

Clavicle – Sternal end

Medial end of the clavicle that articulates with the sternum.

Clavicle – Acromial end

Lateral end of the clavicle that articulates with the acromion.

Humerus – Capitulum

Lateral distal rounded articular surface that articulates with the radius.

Humerus – Trochlea

Medial distal spool-shaped articular surface that articulates with the ulna.

Humerus – Deltoid Tuberosity

Roughened area on the lateral humerus for deltoid muscle attachment.

Humerus – Olecranon Fossa

Posterior depression that accommodates the olecranon of the ulna during extension.

Radius – Radial Tuberosity

Bump on the radius just distal to the elbow for biceps tendon attachment.

Radius – Radial Head

Proximal end of the radius that articulates with the capitulum of the humerus.

Radius – Styloid Process of Radius

Distal projection on the lateral side of the radius.

Ulna – Styloid Process

Distal projection on the ulna for wrist ligament attachment.

Ulna – Olecranon Process

Proximal, posterior projection of the ulna that forms the elbow.

Scaphoid

Boat-shaped carpal bone in the proximal row; commonly fractured.

Lunate

Moon-shaped carpal bone in the proximal row.

Triquetrum

Triangular carpal bone in the proximal row.

Pisiform

Small pea-shaped carpal bone.

Hamate

Hook-like carpal bone in the distal row.

Capitate

Largest carpal bone, located in the distal row.

Trapezoid

Wedge-shaped carpal bone adjacent to the trapezium.

Trapezium

Carpal bone near the base of the thumb.

Metacarpals 1-5

The five bones of the palm, numbered 1 through 5.

Phalanges 1-5 (Hand)

Finger bones; each finger has proximal, middle (intermediate), and distal phalanges.

Femur – Greater Trochanter

Large lateral projection on the proximal femur for muscle attachment.

Femur – Lesser Trochanter

Small posteromedial projection for iliopsoas muscle.

Femur – Linea Aspera

Rough ridge running along the posterior surface of the femur.

Femur – Medial and Lateral Epicondyles

Projections above the knee joint for muscle attachment.

Femur – Medial and Lateral Condyles

Rounded articular surfaces at the knee joint.

Femur – Femoral Head

Ball-shaped proximal end that articulates with the acetabulum.

Tibia – Medial Malleolus

Medial ankle projection forming part of the ankle joint.

Tibia – Tibial Tuberosity

Rough bump on the tibia where the patellar tendon attaches.

Fibula – Fibular Head

Proximal end of the fibula.

Fibula – Lateral Malleolus

Distal lateral ankle projection.

Calcaneus

Heel bone.

Cuboid

Cube-shaped bone on the lateral side of the foot.

Talus

Ankle bone that sits between the leg and the foot.

Navicular

Boat-shaped bone in the medial midfoot.

Cuneiforms 1-3

Three cuneiform bones (medial, intermediate, lateral) in the midfoot.

Metatarsals 1-5

Five long bones of the foot located in the sole.

Phalanges 1-5 (Foot)

Toe bones; each toe has proximal, middle (intermediate), and distal phalanges.

Phalanges 1-5 (Foot) — Hand

Toe bones are analogous to hand phalanges but located in the foot.

Ilium

Largest part of the hip bone; forms the superior portion and wing-like structure.

Pubis

Anterior portion of the hip bone; contributes to the pelvic brim.

Ischium

Posterior inferior portion of the hip bone; forms the buttock region.

ASIS

Anterior Superior Iliac Spine; prominent projection on the ilium.

AIIS

Anterior Inferior Iliac Spine; lower front projection on the ilium.

Iliac Crest

Prominent curved rim at the superior border of the ilium.