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Anatomy & Physiology: Skeletal System and Vertebral Column

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Terms in this set (29)

  • Bone classification by shape
    Bones are classified by shape into categories such as long, short, flat, irregular, and sesamoid bones.
  • Sesamoid bones
    Small bones resembling sesame seeds, embedded within tendons; the patella is a large sesamoid bone shaped like a shallow disk.
  • Appendicular skeleton
    Includes bones of the upper and lower limbs (appendages).
  • Axial skeleton
    Consists of bones forming the vertical axis: skull, vertebral column, ribs, and sternum.
  • Compact bone
    Dense bone tissue forming the hard exterior covering of all bones.
  • Spongy (cancellous) bone
    Porous bone tissue inside bones, made of trabeculae with spaces filled by red or yellow bone marrow.
  • Medullary cavity
    Hollow space inside the diaphysis of long bones, filled with yellow marrow in adults for fat storage.
  • Diploë
    Spongy bone layer sandwiched between two thin layers of compact bone in flat bones like the parietal bone.
  • Red bone marrow location in adults
    Found in spongy bone of ribs, sternum, cranial bones, vertebrae, clavicles, scapulae, pelvic bones, and proximal epiphyses of long bones.
  • Yellow marrow function
    Stores fat and can convert to red marrow during severe blood loss to increase blood cell production.
  • Cranial bones
    Eight bones forming the walls, roof, and floor of the cranial cavity housing the brain; mostly flat or slightly curved.
  • Facial bones
    Fourteen irregular bones forming the face, orbital and nasal cavities, and bony sockets for teeth.
  • Bony orbit composition
    Formed by seven bones: frontal, ethmoid, lacrimal, sphenoid, maxilla, zygomatic, and palatine.
  • Fontanelles in fetal skull
    Soft spots where cranial bones are connected by fibrous tissue; include anterior, posterior, sphenoidal, and mastoid fontanelles.
  • Primary curvatures of vertebral column
    Thoracic and sacral curvatures, concave anteriorly, present from fetal life.
  • Secondary curvatures of vertebral column
    Cervical and lumbar curvatures, concave posteriorly, develop during infancy and childhood.
  • Kyphosis
    Exaggerated thoracic curvature causing a hunchback appearance.
  • Lordosis
    Exaggerated lumbar curvature resulting in a swayback appearance.
  • Scoliosis
    Abnormal lateral deviation of the vertebral column.
  • Vertebral body
    Anterior bony mass of a vertebra that transmits body weight; increases in size from superior to inferior.
  • Spinous and transverse processes
    Spinous process projects posteriorly; two transverse processes project laterally from each vertebra.
  • Intervertebral foramina
    Openings between adjacent vertebrae allowing spinal nerves to exit the vertebral canal.
  • Intervertebral discs
    Fibrocartilage pads separating vertebral bodies, absent between C1-C2 and fused sacral/coccygeal vertebrae.
  • Cervical vertebrae features
    Smallest vertebrae with transverse foramina for vertebral arteries; C3-C6 have bifid spinous processes; C7 has a prominent non-bifid spinous process.
  • Atlas (C1)
    Ringlike vertebra lacking body and spinous process; articulates with occipital condyles to allow 'yes' head nodding.
  • Axis (C2)
    Has dens projecting superiorly into atlas, forming atlanto-axial joint for 'no' head rotation.
  • Thoracic vertebrae characteristics
    Articulate with ribs via costal facets; bodies are heart-shaped; spinous processes project inferiorly.
  • Rib articulation with vertebrae
    Most ribs articulate with two thoracic vertebrae and the intervertebral disc between them.
  • Typical rib anatomy
    Vertebral end has head, neck, and tubercle; shaft has an angle and costal groove for vessels and nerves.