Classification of Bones by Shape

Questions and Answers

What are sutural bones?

Wormian bones, small flat oddly shaped bones found between the flat bones of the skull.

What are irregular bones?

Bones with complex shapes and short, flat, notched, or ridged surfaces.

What are short bones?

Boxlike in appearance; examples include carpal bones (wrist) and tarsal bones (ankles).

What are flat bones?

Thin parallel surfaces found in the roof of the skull, sternum, ribs, and scapulae. Signup and view all the answers

What are long bones?

Relatively long and slender bones located in limbs, like the femur. Signup and view all the answers

What are sesamoid bones?

Usually small, round, and flat bones found near joints. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Types of Bones by Shape

Sutural Bones (Wormian Bones)
- Small, flat, and oddly shaped bones found between flat bones of the skull.
- Sizes range from a grain of sand to a quarter.
- Borders resemble pieces of a jigsaw puzzle.
Irregular Bones
- Have complex shapes with short, flat, notched, or ridged surfaces.
- Examples include vertebrae in the spinal column, bones of the pelvis, and certain skull bones.
Short Bones
- Characterized by a boxlike appearance.
- Include carpal bones in the wrist and tarsal bones in the ankles.
Flat Bones
- Possess thin, parallel surfaces.
- Form the roof of the skull, sternum (breastbone), ribs, and scapulae (shoulder blades).
- Function to protect underlying soft tissues and provide a large surface area for muscle attachment.
Long Bones
- Relatively long and slender.
- Found in the arms, forearms, thighs, legs, palms, soles, fingers, and toes.
- The femur, located in the thigh, is the longest and heaviest bone in the body.
Sesamoid Bones
- Usually small, round, and flat.
- Located near joints in the knees, hands, and feet.
- While individuals may not have sesamoid bones in all potential locations, everyone possesses the patella (knee cap).

Description

Test your knowledge on the classification of bones based on their shapes. This quiz covers sutural and irregular bones, providing definitions and important characteristics to enhance your understanding of human anatomy.