Bone Markings Flashcards

Study Notes

Bone Markings Definitions

Foramen: Round or oval openings in bones allowing passage for blood vessels, nerves, or ligaments; e.g., foramen magnum in the occipital bone at the skull's base.
Fissure: Narrow, slit-like openings for the passage of blood vessels and nerves; e.g., articular fissure.
Groove: Furrows in bones that accommodate blood vessels, nerves, or tendons; e.g., sigmoid sulcus.
Fossa: Shallow, basin-like depressions in bones serving as articular surfaces, facilitating joint formation; e.g., mandibular fossa in the temporal bone.
Meatus: Canal-like passages extending into bones; e.g., external auditory meatus in the temporal bone.
Sinus: Air-filled cavities within bones lined with mucous membrane; e.g., sphenoidal sinuses.
Ramus: Arm-like, curved bars of bone; e.g., superior pubic ramus.
Condyle: Rounded articular projections typically fitting into the fossa of other bones; e.g., medial condyle of the femur.
Facet: Smooth, nearly flat surfaces on bones that form joints with other bones; e.g., superior articular facet.
Head: Bony expansions situated on a narrow neck; e.g., head of the femur.
Process: Any prominence or projection from a bone; e.g., transverse processes of vertebrae.
Spine: Sharp, slender, often pointed projections of bone; e.g., spinal processes of vertebrae.
Epicondyle: Raised areas located on or above condyles; e.g., medial epicondyle of the humerus.
Tubercle: Small rounded projections or processes on bones; e.g., adductor tubercle of the femur.
Line: Narrow ridges on bones, less prominent than crests; e.g., intertrochanter line of the femur.
Trochanter: Large, blunt, and irregularly shaped processes found only on the femur; e.g., greater and lesser trochanters of the femur.
Crest: Prominent narrow ridges of bones; e.g., iliac crest of the coxal bone.
Tuberosity: Large rounded projections that may be roughened, typically located at the ends of bones for muscle or tendon attachment; e.g., ischial tuberosity of the ilium.