Bones of the Skull

Bones of the Skull

• Cranium: A flat bone protecting the brain. Also called the skull box or the head.
• Skull: A flat bone protecting the brain. Also called the skull.
• Face: Special bone, with cavities in the facial bones that reduce weight and increase resonance space.
• Frontal bone: Located in the forehead.
• Parietal bone: Located in the crown (top of the head).
• Temporal bone: Located on the side of the skull, next to the ears.
• Occipital bone: Lower and back part of the skull, including the large opening (foramen magnum) where the spinal cord enters the brain.
• Sphenoid: Located in the center of the skull, forming part of the anterior wall of the brain case and posterior wall of the face
• Sella turcica: A saddle-shaped structure in the sphenoid bone that houses the pituitary gland (master endocrine gland).
• Maxillae: Upper jaw bone, responsible for chewing, forming the eye socket, and the hard palate separating the oral and nasal cavities.
• Mandibula (Mandible): The lower jaw bone, the strongest and largest facial bone. It is responsible for chewing and forms the only movable joints in the skull.
• Hyoid bone: Located in the neck, below the mandible and above the larynx. It supports the tongue muscles and is important for swallowing. It is unique in that it does not connect to any other bone and is shaped like the letter U.
• Maxillary sinus: Found in the upper jaw, below the eyes. These cavities reduce the weight of the facial bones and convert them into a resonant chamber which enhances clarity of sound. The mucosa lining sinuses warms and filters air.
• Frontal sinus: Found in the forehead, above the eyes. These cavities reduce the weight of the facial bones, convert them into a resonant chamber which enhances clarity of sound. The mucosa lining sinuses warms and filters air.

Vertebral Column

• Vertebral column: The central axis of the body, crucial for stability, strength and flexibility.
• Atlas (C1): The first vertebra, supporting the skull.
• Axis (C2): The second vertebra, enabling head movement..
• Cervical vertebrae (C1-C7): Neck vertebrae; smaller and more flexible vertebrae, which connect with the ribs.
• Thoracic vertebrae (T1-T12): Mid-back vertebrae that form a connection with the ribs.
• Lumbar vertebrae (L1-L5): Lower back vertebrae; bigger and more robust, and bear most of body weight.
• Sacrum: A triangular bone at the back of the pelvis, formed from the fusion of five sacral vertebrae. It serves as the base for the pelvis..
• Coccyx: A small, triangular bone located below the sacrum.

Thorax (Ribcage)

• Clavicle (Collarbone): Part of the shoulder girdle.
• Scapula (Shoulder blade): A flat bone of the shoulder girdle, providing attachments for muscles and ligaments.
• Sternum (Breastbone): The front of the chest.
• Ribs: Protecting the heart and lungs.
  • True ribs (1-7): Connected to the sternum via cartilage.
  • False ribs (8-10): Attached to the cartilage of the seventh rib.
  • Floating ribs (11-12): Not connected to the sternum.

Upper Limbs

• Humerus: Upper arm bone.
• Ulna: Inner forearm bone.
• Radius: Outer forearm bone.
• Carpals: Short bones of the wrist.
• Metacarpals: Bones of the palm.
• Phalanges: Finger bones (each finger has three, except the thumb, which has two).

Lower Limbs

• Femur: Thigh bone (the largest and strongest bone in the body), important for lever movement and connecting to the hip joint.
• Patella: Kneecap (sesamoid bone).
• Tibia: Shin bone (inner lower leg bone)
• Fibula: Smaller lower leg bone.
• Tarsals: Short bones of the ankle.
• Metatarsals: Bones of the sole and midfoot.
• Phalanges: Toe bones (each toe has three, except the big toe, which has two).
• Acetabulum: The cup-shaped socket on the hip bone, which articulates with the head of the femur to form the hip joint.
• Obturator foramen: A large opening connecting the pubis and ischium bones.
• Pubis: Part of the hip bone.
• Ischium: Part of the hip bone (important for the sit bones/buttocks).
• Ilium: Part of the hip bone (upper part).
• Coxal bone: Hipbone.

Joints

• Fibrous joints: Immovable joints (e.g., sutures in the skull).
• Cartilaginous joints: Slightly movable joints (e.g., pubic symphysis).
• Synovial joints: Freely movable joints (e.g., hip, knee) containing synovial fluid that reduces friction.