Axial Skeleton Term List

Anatomy & Physiology Axial Skeleton Term List

DIRECTIONS: The following include structures you will be asked to identify on models and diagrams for the Axial skeleton. Quiz each other often to help you in identifying the different bones and markings.

- MAJOR BONES & FEATURES:

• Frontal Bone • Zygomatic Arch • Parietal Bone • Vomer Bone • Temporal Bone • Coronal Suture • Occipital Bone • Sagittal Suture • Ethmoid Bone • Lambdoid Suture • Sphenoid Bone (butterfly shaped) • Squamous Suture • Zygomatic Bone (cheek bone) • External acoustic meatus • Mandible • Lacrimal Bone • Maxilla

- BONE LANDMARKS

• Mastoid process • Inferior nasal concha • Mandibular condyle • Middle nasal concha • Zygomatic process of the temporal • Infraorbital foramen bone • Inferior orbital fissure • Temporal process of the zygomatic • Superior orbital fissure bone • Supraorbital fissure • Styloid process • Foramen rotundum • Occipital condyles • Foramen ovale • Coronoid process • Foramen spinosum • Mental foramen • Internal acoustic meatus • Foramen magnum • Hypoglossal canal • Sella turcica (“Turkish Saddle” – of • Jugular foramen Sphenoid bone) • Carotid canal • Cribriform plate (of Ethmoid bone) • Optic foramen • Crista galli (of Ethmoid bone) • Inferior nuchal line • Perpendicular plate (of Ethmoid • Superior nuchal line bone)

-VERTEBRAL COLUMN

~ A mnemonic device for learning the order of the vertebra in the vertebral column is as follows: “C” – Cee – Cervical “T” – The – Thoracic “L” – Long – Lumbar “S” – Spinal – Sacrum “C” – Cord – Coccyx (tail bone)

~You are also required to learn the number of individual vertebrae in each section, another device may be helpful:

Cervical = 7 Vertebrae Thoracic = 12 Vertebrae Lumbar = 5 Vertebrae Sacrum = 5 Vertebrae (fused) Coccyx = 4 Vertebrae

|7 – 12 | = 5 = 5 ~ 4 (I know, corny, but it works for me….)

Major Bones of the Vertebral Column

• Cervical Vertebrae (Characteristics & Number) • Thoracic Vertebrae (Characteristics & Number) • Lumbar Vertebrae (Characteristics & Number) • Sacrum • Coccyx • Atlas (C1) (Function = to say “yes”; nod your head) • Axis (C2) (Function = to say “no”; rotate your head)

~Bone Landmarks of Vertebrae

• Spinous process • Lamina • Transverse process • Pedicle • Vertebral foramen • Tubercle of the Sacrum • Transverse process • Sacral hiatus (Sacrum) • Body of vertebrae • Superior articular surface of • Superior articulating surface Sacrum

RIB CAGE ~Usually each person has twelve pairs of ribs, one pair attached to each of the 12 thoracic vertebrae. The first seven ribs are called true ribs and join to the sternum directly by costal cartilage. The remaining five ribs are called false ribs, because their cartilages do not reach the sternum directly.

~Major terms to know regarding the ribs:

• True ribs • False ribs • Costal cartilage • Body of rib • Head of rib • Neck of rib • Facets of ribs

STERNUM

~Also known in common terms as the breastbone.

~Major terms to know regarding the sternum:

• Manubrium (Superior portion of sternum) • Body (Middle part of sternum) • Xiphoid process (bottom part, don’t break during CPR)