Skeleton Study Flashcards
(22 cards)
Mandible?
The mandible or the lower jaw bone is the largest and strongest bone in the face. The temporomandibular joints connect the mandible to the base of the skull. This allows the mandible to move freely. The upper jaw bone is called the maxilla and is attached to the cheek bone.
Cranium?
The cranium encloses and protects the brain and eyes. Together the cranium and mandible bones form what we refer to as the ‘skull’. The brain is separated from the skull by three layers of membranes, called the meninges.
Sternum?
The sternum or breastbone is found in the front wall of the chest along the midline. It consists of three parts: the manubrium, body and xiphoid process. The manubrium connects with the clavicles (collar bones) thereby assisting in stabilizing the shoulders. The ribs are connected to the sides of the manubrium and the body of the sternum.
Clavicle?
The collarbone or clavicle helps to stabilize the shoulder joint. It is attached to the scapula (shoulder blade) at one end and the sternum (breastbone) at the other.
Phalanges?
The finger bones are called the phalanges. The three phalanges in each finger are refered to as the proximal, middle and distal phalanges, and have hinge joints between them. The thumb, as in the big toe, only has two phalanges.
Metacarpals?
Between the carpals and phalanges are the five metacarpal bones. They join the phalanges at the metacarpophalangeal joints. The first metacarpal, between the wrist and thumb, is particularly mobile allowing the thumb a wide range of movements.
Carpals?
The wrist contains a group of eight bones named the carpal bones. They join the radius to the hand. This joint allows the hand to be bent forward (flexion) or backward (extension) or from side to side.
Radius?
The radius is one of the bones in the lower arm. The joints between the ulna and the radius at the wrists and elbow allow the forearm to be rotated from the palm held upward (supination) to the palm held downward (pronation). The radius pivots around the ulna in these movements.
Humerus?
The humerus fits into the scapula to form the shoulder joint. Near the elbow joint, the ulnar nerve runs close to the surface of the skin. A hit to that area causes the strange sensation of tingling or pain refered to as hitting the “funny bone”.
Ulna?
The ulna can be felt at the point of the elbow. It has an associated nerve called the ulnar nerve which passes behind the elbow joint, just under the skin, making it particularly vulnerable. When this area is hit, the ulnar nerve is activated causing the pain associated with hitting the “funny bone”.
Vertabral column?
The vertebral column extends down the midline from the base of the skull to the pelvis. Its main function is to protect the spinal cord. The spine is firm enough to support the weight of the head, neck and trunk, but is also flexible due to its segmented structure, allowing the trunk to bend and twist. The bony building blocks of the spine are called the vertebrae.
Ribcage?
There are twelve pairs of ribs forming a protective cage for the heart and lungs. The first seven pairs are attached to the sternum directly and are referred to as true ribs. False ribs refer to ribs that indirectly attach to the sternum. The 11th and 12th pairs of ribs are called floating ribs as they are not attached to the sternum at all.
Scapula?
The scapula is a flat triangular bone located in the back of the shoulder. Each scapula is connected to the humerus and clavicle.
Sacrum?
The triangular bone at the base of the spine is the sacrum. It connects with the last vertebra of the vertebral column and the coccyx (tailbone) . It is made of five vertebrae that start to fuse together during adolescence.
Coccyx?
The coccyx or tailbone is the last segment of the vertebral column. Its four vertebrae are fused and joined to the sacrum above.
Patella?
The patella is a triangular shaped bone that makes up the knee cap. The knee joint unites the patella with the femur and tibia. The knee’s fibrous capsule produces synovial fluid to lubricate the joint and keep the bones friction-free.
Femur?
The femur or thigh bone is the largest and strongest bone in the body.
Pelvis?
The pelvic bones form a basin which holds the pelvic organs. They also form the pelvic girdle which provides connection points for the lower limbs. The ilium, ischium and pubis form the hip bones.
Tibia?
The tibia or the shin bone is the the second largest bone in the body after the femur. The tibia and the femur connect at the knee joint.
Phalanges?
The phalanges are the toe bones. The big toe only has two phalanges while the other toes have three phalanges each.
Tarsals?
The seven irregularly-shaped bones in the back half of the foot and the ankle are referred to as the tarsal bones. They are seperated from each other by joints, which allow gliding movements to occur between them.q
Fibula?
The fibula, or calf bone, provides the tibia with support through ligament connections.
