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Anatomy & Physiology: Skull Bones and Skeletal System

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  • Axial Skeleton

    Includes skull, vertebral column, rib cage. Main function is protection of brain, heart, and spinal cord.

  • Appendicular Skeleton

    Includes upper and lower extremities and girdles. Main function is movement.

  • Pectoral and Pelvic Girdles

    Pectoral girdle attaches upper extremity; Pelvic girdle attaches lower extremity to the trunk.

  • Flat Bones

    Contain red marrow and are sites of blood cell production.

  • Irregular Bones

    Contain yellow marrow for triglyceride storage.

  • Cranial vs Facial Bones

    Cranial bones protect the brain; Facial bones form facial features.

  • Frontal Bone

    Flat bone forming the forehead and superior part of eye sockets.

  • Glabella

    Flat area between eyebrows on frontal bone; serves as a muscle attachment site.

  • Supraorbital Margin

    Ridge above eye socket on frontal bone; a muscle attachment site.

  • Temporal Bone Regions

    Four regions: Squamous, Tympanic, Mastoid, and Petrous.

  • Mandibular Fossa

    Indentation in temporal bone that receives mandibular condyle to form the TMJ joint.

  • Carotid Canal

    Passageway in temporal bone for carotid arteries supplying 80% oxygenated blood to brain.

  • Jugular Canal

    Passageway for jugular veins that drain blood from the brain.

  • Occipital Condyles

    Articulate with atlas (C1) vertebra; allow "YES" motion of the head.

  • Sella Turcica

    Saddle-shaped indentation on sphenoid bone that holds the pituitary gland.

  • Crista Galli

    Projection of ethmoid bone serving as attachment for meninges (brain covering membranes).

  • Nasal Septum Composition

    Formed by the perpendicular plate of ethmoid and the vomer bone.

  • Sagittal Suture

    Joint between right and left parietal bones; divides the skull into right and left halves.

  • Mandible

    Irregular bone holding lower teeth; largest and only freely movable skull bone.

  • Mandibular Foramen

    Passageway for nerves and vessels to lower teeth and gums; site for dental anesthesia injection.

  • Maxilla

    Irregular bone forming upper jaw; holds upper teeth and touches all facial bones.

  • Palatine Bone

    Forms the posterior one-third of the hard palate.

  • Zygomatic Arch Composition

    Formed by the zygomatic process of temporal bone (posterior) and temporal process of zygomatic bone (anterior).

  • Paranasal Sinuses Functions

    Lighten the skull and enhance voice resonance.

  • Hyoid Bone

    Only free-floating bone; attachment site for tongue muscles; important for speech and swallowing.

  • Fontanelles

    Soft spots in infant skull made of fibrous membrane; allow skull growth and compression during childbirth.

  • Anterior Fontanelle Closure

    Closes between 2 to 3 years of age.

  • Middle Nasal Concha

    Curved structure of ethmoid bone that speeds airflow and cleans inhaled air.