bone terminology: projections and parts

process

boney prominence

eminence

a bony projection that is not as prominent as a process

spine

a longer, thinner, sharper process than an eminence

tuberosity

a large, usually rough eminence that is often the site of attachment for a tendon or ligament

tubercle

a small, usually rough eminence that is often the site of attachment for a tendon or ligament

trochanter

large, prominent, blunt, rough processes found in the proximal femur

malleolus

the rounded protuberance adjacent to the ankle joint (what we think of as the ankle)

boss

a smooth round, broad eminence, can be found on the skull

articulation

a joint where two bones meet

condyle

a rounder articular process

epicondyle

a nonarticular projection adjacent to a condyle

head

a large, rounded, usually articular end of a bone

shaft

the long, straight section of bones

epiphysis

usually the end portion of a long bone that is expanded for articulation

neck

section of bone between head and shaft

torus

a boney thickening

ridge

linear bony elevation, usually roughened

crest

prominent, sharp, think ridge of bone often formed between adjacent muscle masses

line

raised linear surface, not as thick as a torus or sharp as a crest

hamulus

hook shaped projection

facet

small articular surface on a bone, or a tooth-to-tooth contact

ramus

a branch