Week 6 Laboratory Exercise 9: Axial Skeleton

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the cranial bones, facial bones, vertebral column, sacrum, coccyx, and thoracic cage markings and diagrams for Laboratory Exercise 9: Axial Skeleton.

Supraorbital foramen (or notch)

Passage of blood vessels

Mastoid process

Bump below ear

Styloid process (temporal)

Sharp attachment point of ligaments & muscles

Zygomatic process (temporal)

A bridge-like bone to articulate other bones, forms part of zygomatic arch

External acoustic meatus

The canal within the temporal bone through which sound waves travel toward the eardrum.

Mandibular fossa

An oval depression on the inferior surface of the temporal bone that articulates with the condylar process of the mandible to form the temporomandibular joint.

Jugular foramen

A large opening located at the junction between the temporal and occipital bones that allows the passage of the internal jugular vein and cranial nerves.

Carotid canal

A passageway in the temporal bone through which the internal carotid artery enters the cranial cavity.

Foramen magnum

The large opening in the base of the occipital bone through which the brainstem connects to the spinal cord.

Occipital condyles

Curved, rocker-like articular surfaces on the inferior occipital bone flanking the foramen magnum that articulate with the atlas (C1).

Greater and lesser wings

Prominent lateral extensions of the sphenoid bone that form portions of the cranial floor and eye orbit walls.

Superior orbital fissure

A jagged diagonal cleft between the greater and lesser wings of the sphenoid bone through which cranial nerves controlling eye movements pass into the orbit.

Sella turcica & hypophyseal fossa

A saddle-shaped bone formation of the sphenoid bone whose central depression (hypophyseal fossa) encloses and protects the pituitary gland.

Optic canal

An opening in the sphenoid bone anterior to the sella turcica that transmits the optic nerve and ophthalmic artery into the orbit.

Crista galli

A rooster-comb-like upright crest of the ethmoid bone that projects into the cranial cavity and serves as an attachment point for the dura mater.

Cribriform plate

The porous horizontal bone plate of the ethmoid bone flanking the crista galli, perforated with olfactory foramina for the passage of smell nerve fibers.

Perpendicular plate (ethmoid)

A vertical plate of the ethmoid bone that projects downward along the midline to form the superior portion of the bony nasal septum.

Condylar process

The posterior upward projection of the mandibular ramus that forms the head of the mandible and articulates with the mandibular fossa of the temporal bone.

Temporomandibular joint

The synovial joint formed by the articulation between the condylar process of the mandible and the mandibular fossa of the temporal bone.

Coronoid process (mandible)

The anterior, crown-shaped projection of the mandibular ramus that provides an insertion site for the temporalis muscle during chewing.

Body of mandible

The horizontal, U-shaped portion of the lower jawbone that anchors the lower teeth along its alveolar margin.

Mental foramina

Openings located on the anterolateral surface of the body of the mandible through which blood vessels and nerves exit to the chin and lower lip.

Mandibular foramen

An opening on the medial surface of the mandibular ramus that transmits the inferior alveolar nerve and blood vessels to the lower teeth.

Maxilla

Paired facial bones forming the upper jaw, anterior part of the hard palate, floor of the orbits, and lateral boundaries of the nasal cavity.

Palatine bones

Paired L-shaped facial bones that form the posterior portion of the hard palate and the posterolateral walls of the nasal cavity.

Zygomatic bone

Paired facial bones that form the prominences of the cheeks and part of the inferolateral walls of the eye orbits.

Lacrimal bone

Small, delicate facial bones situated in the anterior portion of the medial orbital wall that house the lacrimal sac.

Nasal bone

Paired rectangular facial bones that articulate at the midline to form the bridge of the nose.

Vomer

A slender, plowshare-shaped facial bone situated in the median plane that forms the inferior and posterior portion of the bony nasal septum.

Inferior Nasal Concha

Paired, thin, scroll-shaped facial bones that project horizontally into the nasal cavity from its lateral walls.

Atlas (C1)

The first cervical vertebra, which lacks a body and spinous process, and features superior articular facets that articulate with the occipital condyles.

Axis (C2)

The second cervical vertebra, characterized by the tooth-like dens (odontoid process) that acts as a pivot around which C1 rotates.

Dens

A prominent vertical, tooth-like projection found exclusively on the axis (C2) vertebra that provides a pivot point for rotational movement of the head.

Cervical Vertebrae

The 7 vertebrae of the neck region (C1–C7), uniquely characterized by the presence of a transverse foramen in each transverse process.

Thoracic Vertebrae

The 12 vertebrae of the upper and mid back (T1–T12) that articulate with the ribs via costal facets.

Lumbar vertebrae

The 5 vertebrae of the lower back (L1–L5) possessing large, robust vertebral bodies adapted for bearing upper body weight.

Intervertebral discs

Pads of fibrocartilage positioned between adjacent vertebral bodies that cushion compressive forces and allow spinal flexibility.

Body (vertebra)

The anterior, rounded, weight-bearing segment of a vertebra.

Vertebral arch

The posterior bony structure of a vertebra, composed of pedicles and laminae, that forms the boundary of the vertebral foramen.

Pedicle

A short, thick bony bridge extending posteriorly from the lateral margin of the vertebral body to connect with the lamina.

Lamina

A flattened bony plate of the vertebral arch that extends posteromedially from the pedicle to fuse at the spinous process.

Spinous process

A median posterior projection extending from the junction of the laminae of a vertebra that serves as an attachment point for muscles and ligaments.

Transverse process

A bony projection extending laterally from the junction of the pedicle and lamina on each side of a vertebra.

Transverse foramen

An opening found exclusively within the transverse processes of cervical vertebrae that transmits the vertebral artery and vein.

Vertebral foramen

The large central opening enclosed by the vertebral body and the vertebral arch through which the spinal cord passes.

Superior articular process and facet

Paired superiorly projecting processes of a vertebra, each bearing a smooth surface (facet) that articulates with an inferior articular facet of the vertebra above.

Inferior articular process and facet

Paired inferiorly projecting processes of a vertebra, each bearing a smooth surface (facet) that articulates with a superior articular facet of the vertebra below.

Intervertebral foramina

Lateral openings formed between articulated adjacent vertebrae that allow spinal nerves to exit the vertebral column.

Sacrum

A triangular bone formed by the fusion of five sacral vertebrae that articulates with the pelvic girdle.

Coccyx

The small tailbone at the terminal end of the vertebral column formed by the fusion of three to five rudimentary vertebrae.

Ala (sacrum)

The smooth, wing-like lateral mass extending from the superior base of the sacrum, formed by fused transverse processes.

Median sacral crest

A bumpy ridge running down the posterior midline of the sacrum formed by the fused spinous processes of the sacral vertebrae.

Auricular surface (sacrum)

An ear-shaped, roughened lateral articular surface of the sacrum that articulates with the ilium of the hip bone to form the sacroiliac joint.

Sacral canal

The central tubular passage continuing downward from the vertebral canal through the center of the sacrum.

Sacral foramina

Four pairs of openings on both the anterior and posterior surfaces of the sacrum for the exit of sacral nerve branches and vessels.

Sternum

The flat bone forming the anterior midline of the thoracic cage, consisting of the manubrium, body, and xiphoid process.

Manubrium

The superior, widest portion of the sternum that articulates with the clavicles and the first pair of costal cartilages.

Body of sternum

The elongated central plate of the sternum that articulates with the costal cartilages of ribs 2 through 7.

Xiphoid process

The small, pointed inferior projection of the sternum that remains cartilaginous into adulthood before fully ossifying.

Sternal angle

A palpable transverse horizontal ridge where the manubrium joins the body of the sternum at the level of the second ribs.

Jugular notch

A central, shallow depression located on the superior border of the manubrium between the clavicular notches.

Clavicular notches

Articular depressions located on the superolateral borders of the manubrium that articulate with the medial ends of the clavicles.

Head (rib)

The wedge-shaped posterior end of a rib that articulates with the costal facets on the bodies of thoracic vertebrae.

Figure 9.1: External anatomy of the right lateral aspect of the skull

Lab manual diagram displaying the skull in lateral profile, illustrating cranial bones (frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital, sphenoid), facial bones (zygomatic, maxilla, mandible), the zygomatic arch, and temporal bone markings.

Figure 9.7: Anterior view of the skull

Lab manual diagram displaying the facial skeleton and anterior cranial vault, including the frontal bone, orbits, nasal bones, vomer, maxillae, mandible, supraorbital foramen, and mental foramina.

Figure 9.3: Internal anatomy of the inferior portion of the skull

Lab manual diagram showing the internal cranial floor, highlighting the crista galli and cribriform plate of the ethmoid, sella turcica of the sphenoid, temporal bone petrous parts, and the foramen magnum of the occipital bone.

Figure 9.2: Inferior view of the skull

Lab manual diagram presenting the inferior cranial base, displaying the hard palate (maxillae and palatine bones), vomer, occipital condyles, foramen magnum, and openings including the carotid canal and jugular foramen.

Figure 9.6: Posterior View of the skull

Lab manual diagram showing the back of the cranium, featuring the parietal bones, occipital bone, sagittal suture, and lambdoid suture.

Figure 9.8: Detailed anatomy of the maxilla and mandible

Lab manual diagram showing the mandible and its articulation, detailing the condylar process, coronoid process, body, temporomandibular joint, mental foramen, and mandibular foramen.

Figures 9.13, 9.16, 9.17: Vertebral Column and Regional Vertebrae

Lab manual diagrams showing the complete vertebral column (7 cervical, 12 thoracic, and 5 lumbar vertebrae), intervertebral foramina, and comparative structures of atlas (C1), axis (C2), and typical regional vertebrae.

Figure 9.15: A typical vertebra

Lab manual diagram illustrating the superior view of a typical vertebra, displaying the body, vertebral arch (pedicle and lamina), vertebral foramen, spinous process, transverse processes, and superior articular facets.

Figure 9.18: Sacrum and coccyx

Lab manual diagram showing anterior and posterior views of the sacrum and coccyx, identifying the body, ala, median sacral crest, sacral canal, sacral foramina, and auricular surface.

Figures 9.19 and 9.20: The thoracic cage and structure of a typical true rib

Lab manual diagrams illustrating the components of the thoracic cage (manubrium, sternal body, xiphoid process, costal cartilages, and ribs) and the articulation of a typical rib head and tubercle with thoracic vertebrae.