Lab Activity a Detailed Study of Bones

Lab Activity – A detailed study of bones!

Station #1 – Vertebrae 1. How many total vertebrae do humans have?

2. How many Cervical? Thoracic? Lumbar?

3. What is the difference between the Axis and the Atlas? Where are they located?

4. Differentiate between the body, the vertebral foramen, transverse process and spinous process of a vertebra.

5. Identify the vertebrae labeled A, B, C, D & E at this station.

Station #2 – Long Bones 1. Differentiate between the diaphysis, epiphysis, compact bone and spongy bone.

2. Identify the bones that are labeled A – F, including left vs. right.

3. What 3 bones does the femur articulate with? What types of joints do these articulations form?

Station #3 – Skull 1. What are sutures on the skull?

2. Identify the bones that are labeled A – F. Which of these bones have a left and right?

3. What is the difference between a condyle, a process and a foramen?

4. What are the functions of the foramen magnum and the occipital condyle? Locate them on this skull.

5. What is a fontanel? Where would they be located on this skull (if it were an infant skull)?

Station #4 – Pelvic Girdle 1. Explain the differences between the sacrum, coccyx and the lumbar vertebrae.

2. How many fused vertebrae make up the sacrum and coccyx?

3. What are intervertebral disks?

4. Identify the illium, ischium and pubis of the two coxae.

5. What is the symphysis pubis?

6. Examine the pelvic girdle of the dog. What are some of the structural differences? Why would this be significant in a quadruped vs. a biped? Station #5 – Pectoral Girdle. 1. What bones do the clavicles articulate with? What are the primary functions of the clavicles?

2. Find the scapula. What is the spine, the coracoid process and the acromion process? What bone does the glenoid cavity articulate with?

3. How many total ribs are there? How many are true ribs? False ribs? Floating ribs?

4. Do men and women have a different number of ribs? (Yes students always ask me this question!!!)

5. What are the 3 part of the sternum?

Station #6 – Male vs. Female Skeleton (Pelvic Girdle) 1. Use Table 7.4 to identify the differences that exist between males and females; * Pelvic Girdle – * Pelvic Cavity – * Sacrum - * Coccyx –

2. Based on this information, would you conclude that pelvis A or B belongs to a male or a female? Justify your answer.

Station #7 – Male vs. Female Skeleton (skull) 1. Using the handouts, identify some of the distinct differences between a male and female skull.

2. Explain why you think these differences exist on the skull.

3. Based on this information, would you conclude that skull 1 or 2 belonges to a male or a female. Justify your answer.

Station #8 – Real Skeleton. 1. After bone tissue dies, what inorganic salts remain to form the bone that you see?

2. Does this skeleton show signs of osteoporosis? How would you know?

3. Examine the bodies of this skeleton’s vertebrae. What do you notice is different? What do you think causes this and what complications might this have posed for this person in life?

4. What explanation can you offer to the fact that this person’s xiphoid process is not visible? That one of his occipital condyles is absent? That his hyoid bone is absent?

5. Based on information from table 7.4 in your book, would you conclude that this person is a male or a female? Justify your answer.

6. What do you notice about the articulation between the right coxa and the sacrum? What do you notice about the right temporal bone? Create stories to explain these issues.