bones pg 1

.What is the main purpose of the axial skeleton?

It provides central support for the body and protects internal organs like the brain, spinal cord, and organs in the thorax..

Q: What are the three regions of the axial skeleton?

A: The skull, vertebral column (spine), and bony thorax (ribcage and sternum).

Skull Structure

Q: What type of bones make up most of the skull?

A: Flat bones that are immovably joined together, except for the mandible.

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Q: What are the two sets of bones in the skull?

A: Cranial bones (form the cranium) and facial bones (form the face).

Q: How many cranial bones form the cranium?

A: Eight flat bones.

Q: What is a key characteristic of cranial bones?

A: They form a helmet-shaped structure with immovable joints called sutures.

Q: What are fontanelles, and why are they important?

A: Fontanelles are membrane-filled spaces in the cranium at birth. They allow the baby’s head to compress during birth and provide space for the brain to grow during infancy.

Q: By what age are fontanelles replaced by bone?

A: By the age of two years.

What are three functions of the cranium?

A:

1. Protects the brain.

2. Protects sense organs of smell, sight, and hearing.

3. Provides attachment for head muscles

.Q: What bone supports the soft tissue of the nose?

A: Nasal bone.

Q: Which jaw is movable, and what is it called

A: The mandible (lower jaw).