Unit 2 Flashcards
Condyle
Condyles are rounded knobs that form articulations with other bones. They often provide structural support to the articular surface, helping to absorb the force exerted at the joint. The lateral condyle of femur is one example, which is easily palpable at the knee.
Epicondyle
Epicondyle is a bony area on or above a condyle. It serves mainly as an area for a muscle or ligament attachment. Example: medial epicondyle of humerus.
Process
A process is a bulging bony outgrowth of a larger bone. An example is the mastoid process, which is easily palpable from behind the ear, and to which many head muscles are attached.
Protuberance
Protuberances, similar to processes, are swelling, bulging or protruding parts of bone. The external occipital protuberance is one example. Jutting out from the midline of the external surface, it is palpable from the back of the head.
Tubercle
A tubercle is a small rounded prominence, often a site of tendon or ligament attachment e.g. adductor tubercle of femur.
Tuberosity
A rounded prominence
Trochanter
This landmark is present only in the femur and it refers to a very large, blunt, irregularly shaped process of the femur that serves as an attachment point for muscles and ligaments. On the femur there is a greater trochanter and a less prominent lesser trochanter.
Spine
The spine (or spinous process) is a sharp, slender projection of the bone which is useful for attachment of muscles or ligaments. Example: spine of sphenoid bone.
Linea (line)
The term linea refers to a subtle, long, and narrow impression which distinguishes itself in elevation, color or texture from surrounding tissues. The linea aspera of femur is one example. Found on the posterior surface, it consists of medial and lateral lips diverging at its superior and inferior ends.
Facet
The facet is a flat smooth area of the bone which serves as an articular surface. Example: acromial facet of clavicle.
Crests & Ridges
Crests can be described as prominent, raised edges of a bone. They are of medium thickness and often found at sites where connective tissue connects muscle and bone. The iliac crest is one example. Found inferior to the quadratus lumborum, for which it serves as the origin point, it is palpable along its entire length, and is thicker at the extremities than the center.
Ridges are linear elevations, margins or borders. The lateral supracondylar ridge of humerus is one example, where we notice a slight projection compared to the surrounding bone.
Foramen and fissure
Foramina (sing: foramen) are holes or openings in a bone, usually through which nerves and blood vessels pass. The jugular foramen is one example through which the inferior petrosal sinus, sigmoid sinus, glossopharyngeal, vagus and accessory nerves pass.
Fissures are open slits, grooves or depressions in a bone, often housing nerves and blood vessels. An example is the inferior orbital fissure. Separating the floor from the lateral wall, it gives passage to structures like the zygomatic nerve and orbital branches of the pterygopalatine ganglion.
Notch
Notches (or incisures) can be defined as indentations at the edge of a structure, like a cleft. The scapular notch, which forms a deep, distinctive depression along the superolateral border of the scapula, is one example.
Axial Skeleton Bones
Frontal bone, maxilla, mandible, temporal bone, parietal bone, occipital bone, vertebral column, sacrum, coccyx, ribs, sternum
Appendicular skeleton
Clavicle, scapula, humerus, ulna, radius, carpal bones, metacarpals, phalanges of hand, ilium, ischium, pubis, femur, patella, tibia, fibula, tarsal bones, metatarsals, phalanges of foot
