| Term | Definition |
|---|
| anterior cranial fossa | fossa formed by the frontal bone, ethmoid and lesser wings of the sphenoid |
| auditory ossicles | ear bones; transfer sound vibrations from the tympanic membrane to the fluid-filled chamber in the inner ear |
| auricular surface | the rough articular surface on the lateral aspects of the sacrum |
| axial skeleton components | skull, associated bones, vertebral column and thoracic cage |
| bifid process | notched spinous process; cut into two parts |
| carotid canal | passageway for the internal carotid artery, a major artery that supplies blood to the brain |
| cervical vertebrae | 7; articulates with the occipital bone; distinguished by shape of the vertebral body, relative size of the vertebral foramen and presence of costal processes with transverse foramina, and bifid spinous process |
| coccyx | consists of 3-5 coccygeal vertebrae that have usually begun fusing by age 26; provides an attachment site for a number of ligaments and for a muscle that constricts the anal opening. |
| coronal suture | suture that crosses the superior surface of the skull, separating the anterior frontal bone from the more posterior parietal bones |
| costal process | An anterior or ventral projection on the lateral part of a cervical vertebra, encircles the transverse foramina |
| cranial cavity | fluid-filled chamber that cushions and supports the brain; division of the dorsal cavity |
| cranial fossae | curving depressions in the cranial floor that closely follow the shape of the brain |
| cranial components | occipital, parietal (2), frontal, temporal (2), sphenoid and ethmoid bones |
| cribiform plate | superior surface of the ethmoid; perforated by a foramina which allows passage of the olfactory nerves, which provide sense of smell |
| ethmoid | irregularly shaped bone that forms part of the orbital wall and the roof of the nasal cavity |
| ethmoid labyrinth | interconnected network of ethmoidal air cells, which secrete mucous to flush surfaces of nasal cavities |
| external nares | nasal openings |
| facial bones | bones that protect and support the entrances to the digestive and respiratory tracts |
| floating ribs | last two pairs of "false" ribs; have no connection with the sternum |
| fontanels | fibrous connections that permit the skulls of infants and children to continue growing |
| foramen magnum | large circular opening within the occipital bone that connects the cranial cavity with the spinal cavity enclosed by the vertebral column |
| frontal bone | forms the forehead and roof of the orbits |
| frontonasal suture | boundary between the superior aspects of the two nasal bones and the frontal bone |
| hyoid bone | serves as a base for several muscles concerned with the movements of the tongue and larynx; suspended by stylohoid ligaments; consists of a body, the greater horns and the lesser horns |
| inferior articular process of the vertebrae | articular process that arises at the junction between the pedicles and laminae; projects caudally |
| inferior nasal concha | located on each side of the nasal septum, attached to the lateral wall of the nasal cavity; increase epithelial surface area and create turbulence in the inspired air |
| intervertebral disc | pads of fibrous cartilage separating interconnecting ligaments |
| jugular foramen | foramen formed partly by the occipital bone within which the internal jugular vein passes through to drain venous blood from the brain |
| lacrimal bones | smallest bones in the skull; situated in the medial portion of each orbit. |
| lacrimal groove | formed by the lacrimal bone and the maxilla; leads to the nasolacrimal canal |
| lambdoid suture | suture that arches across the posterior surface of the skull; separates the occipital and parietal bones |
| left and right maxillae (maxillary bones) | largest facial bones and form the upper jaw |
| lumbar vertebrae | 5; the fifith articulates with the sacrum; are the most massive and least mobile vertebrae; subjected to the greatest strains |
| mandible | entire lower jaw; articulates with the temporal bone at the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) |
| middle cranial fossa | fossa created by the sphenoid, temporal and parietal bones |
| nasal bones | paired bones; articulate with the frontal bone at the midline and articulate with cartilages that form the superior borders of the external nares |
| nasal complex | includes bones and cartilage that enclose the nasal cavities and the paranasal sinuses |
| nasolacrimal canal | delivers tears to the nasal cavity |
| occipital bone | forms part of the base of the skull; surrounds the foramen magnum and part of the wall of the jugular foramen |
| optic canal | located within the sphenoid; optic nerves travel through these canals |
| optic nerves | nerves that carry visual information from the eyes to the brain |
| orbital complex | formed by frontal, lacrimal, palatine and zygomatic bones, ethmoid, sphenoid and maxillae; bony recess that contains an eye |
| palatine bones | small l-shaped bones that form the posterior portions of the hard palate and contribute to the floor of the orbit |
| paranasal sinuses | hollow airways that interconnect with the nasal passages |
| parietal bones | form part of the superior and lateral surfaces of the cranium |
| posterior cranial fossa | fossa primarily formed by the occipital bone, with contributions from the temporal and parietal bones |
| primary or accommodation curves | thoracic and sacral curves; appear late in fetal development; accommodate the thoracic and abdominopelvic viscera |
| pterygoid processes | vertical projections that begin at the boundary between the greater and lesser wings of the sphenoid; serve as sites for attachment of muscles that move the mandible and soft palate |
| rib cage | consists of the ribs and the sternum |
| sacrum | protects reproductive, digestive and excretory organs; has an auricular surface for articulation with the pelvic girdle; articulates with the fused elements of the coccyx |
| saggital suture | suture that begins at the superior midline of the lambdoid suture and separates the left and right parietal bones to the coronal suture |
| secondary or compensation curves | lumbar and cervical curves; do not appear until several months after birth; help shift the trunk weight over the legs as the child begins to stand |
| skull bones | bones that protect the brain and guard entrances to the digestivee and respiratory systems |
| skull components | cranium (8 bones) and bones of the face (14) |
| sphenoid | bone that contributes to the floor of the cranium; acts as a bridge between the cranial and the facial bones; contains optic canal and pterygoid processes |
| squamous suture | suture on each side of the skull, separating the temporal bone and the parietal bone |
| sternum | consists of manubrium, a body and a xiphoid process (most inferior portion of the sternum) |
| superior articular process of the vertebrae | articular process that arises at the junction between the pedicles and laminae; projects cranially |
| sutures | immovable joints that form boundaries between skull bones |
| temporal bone | forms part of the wall of jugular foramen; houses the carotid canal and tympanic cavity |
| thoracic cage | consists of thoracic vertebrae, the ribs and the sternum; protects the heart, lungs, thymus and other structures within the cavity; serves as an attachment site for muscles involved in respiration, positioning vertebral column, movements of the pectoral girdle and upper limb |
| thoracic vertebrae | 12; have distinctive heart-shaped bodies; long, slender spinous processes and articulations of the ribs |
| transverse foramina | passageway which protects the vertebral arteries and vertebral veins, important blood vessels supplying the brain |
| tympanic cavity | middle ear; houses the auditory ossicles; located within the temporal bone |
| vertebral arch (neural arch) | part of the vertebrae which is formed by the walls (pedicles) and roof (lamina) and provides a space for the spinal cord; articulates with other vertebrae at the superior and inferior articular processes |
| vertebral end | on a typical rib this articulates with the vertebral column at the head, or capitulum |
| vertebrochondral ribs | "false" ribs that do not attach directly to the sternum; ribs 8-12 |
| vertebrosternal ribs | "true" ribs that attach to the sternum by separate cartilaginous extensions; ribs 1-7 |
| vomer | forms the inferior portion of the nasal septum |
| zygomatic arch | cheekbone; formed by the articulations of the temporal process to the zygomatic bone and the zygomatic process of the temporal bone |
| perpendicular plate | forms part of the nasal septum |
| nasal septum | a partition formed partly by the perpendicular plate and also include the vomer and a piece of hyaline cartilage |
| atlas | has no body and articulates cranially with the occipital condyles; allows one to shake head "yes"; C1 |
| axis | body fuses with the body of the axis during development to form the odontoid process (dens); contains no intevertebral disc; allows one to shake head "no"; C2 |
| vertebra prominens | last cervical vertebrae; resembles thoracic vertebrae in structure; elastic ligament called ligamentum nuchae extends from spinous process cranially to occipital crest; C7 |
Combine with other sets
Share on Facebook
Share on MySpace