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Anatomy & Physiology: Skeletal System - Skull, Vertebral Column, and Thoracic Cage

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Terms in this set (20)

  • Axial vs Appendicular Skeleton

    Axial skeleton forms the central axis including skull, vertebral column, ribs, sternum, and sacrum. Appendicular skeleton includes limbs and girdles (pectoral and pelvic).

  • Number of bones in adult skeleton

    Typically 206 bones in an adult skeleton, starting from about 270 at birth which decreases due to bone fusion.

  • Functions of the vertebral column

    Supports skull and trunk, allows movement, protects spinal cord, absorbs stress from movement, and provides attachment for limbs and muscles.

  • Cranial bones vs Facial bones

    Cranial bones (8) surround and protect the brain. Facial bones (14) support teeth, form nasal cavity and orbit, and provide muscle attachments.

  • Sutures of the skull

    Skull bones are joined by sutures, dense connective tissue joints, including coronal, sagittal, lambdoid, and squamous sutures.

  • Major cranial fossae and their contents

    Anterior fossa holds frontal lobes, middle fossa holds temporal lobes, posterior fossa contains cerebellum.

  • Foramen magnum function

    Large opening in occipital bone allowing passage of the spinal cord from brain to vertebral column.

  • Ethmoid bone features

    Located between orbits, includes cribiform plate, labyrinth (ethmoid air cells), and perpendicular plate forming part of nasal septum.

  • Paranasal sinuses

    Air-filled cavities in frontal, maxillary, ethmoid, and sphenoid bones that lighten the skull and enhance voice resonance.

  • Unique features of the atlas (C1) vertebra

    Supports skull, has no body, ring-shaped with large vertebral foramen, allows nodding 'yes' motion.

  • Unique features of the axis (C2) vertebra

    Has dens (odontoid process) projecting into atlas, allowing head rotation 'no' motion.

  • Intervertebral discs structure and function

    Discs of fibrocartilage between vertebrae with gelatinous nucleus pulposus and fibrous anulus fibrosus; absorb shock and bind vertebrae.

  • Differences between cervical, thoracic, and lumbar vertebrae

    Cervical: small body, large vertebral foramen, transverse foramina. Thoracic: medium body, costal facets for ribs. Lumbar: large body, blunt spinous process, resistant to twisting.

  • Sacrum and coccyx

    Sacrum: 5 fused vertebrae forming posterior pelvis. Coccyx: 4 fused vertebrae, tailbone, attachment for pelvic muscles.

  • Thoracic cage components and functions

    Includes thoracic vertebrae, ribs, sternum; protects organs, supports shoulder girdle, and aids respiration.

  • True ribs vs False ribs

    True ribs (1-7) attach directly to sternum via costal cartilage. False ribs (8-12) attach indirectly or not at all (floating ribs 11-12).

  • Pectoral girdle bones and function

    Consists of clavicle and scapula; attaches upper limbs to axial skeleton and allows wide range of shoulder movement.

  • Scapula key features

    Triangular bone with spine ending in acromion, coracoid process for muscle attachment, and glenoid fossa for humerus articulation.

  • Humerus important landmarks

    Head articulates with scapula, greater and lesser tubercles for muscle attachment, capitulum and trochlea articulate with radius and ulna.

  • Differences between male and female pelvis

    Female pelvis is lighter, wider pubic arch (>100°), and round pelvic inlet; male pelvis is heavier, narrower arch, and heart-shaped inlet.