Radiography: Bones, Joints & Anatomy

• These notes cover radiographic anatomy, terminology, and an introduction to bones and joints.

Overview & Objectives

• Terminology related to bones will be covered.
• Parts of long bones and bone formation will be explored.
• The skeletal system's composition and the various types of bones will be explained.

General Anatomical Terms

• Human anatomy divides into:
  • Gross anatomy/naked eye anatomy
  • Histology: microscopic study of body tissues
  • Embryology: study of the embryo in intrauterine life
  • Radiographic anatomy: study of radiograph or image
  • Cross-section anatomy: study of sectional images by CT & MRI

Skeletal System Basics

• The skeletal system comprises bones and joints, serving four primary functions:
  • Supporting and protecting the soft tissues.
  • Enabling body movement.
  • Producing blood cells.
  • Storing calcium.

Osteology and Arthrology

• Osteology is specifically the study of bones.
• Arthrology is specifically the study of joints.

Bone Count and Skeletal Divisions

• The adult skeletal system consists of 206 individual bones.
• The skeleton divides into:
  • Axial skeleton
  • Appendicular skeleton

Axial Skeleton

• The axial skeleton consists of 80 bones along the body's central axis.
• It includes:
  • Skull
  • Vertebral column
  • Ribs

Appendicular Skeleton

• The appendicular skeleton is made up of 126 separate bones.
• The appendicular skeleton includes:
  • Limbs
  • Shoulder
  • Pelvic girdles

Bone Classification

• Bones are classified into 4 categories:
  • Long bones (e.g., limbs)
  • Short bones (e.g., carpals, tarsals)
  • Flat bones (e.g., calvarium, sternum, ribs, scapulae)
  • Irregular bones (e.g., vertebrae, facial bones, pelvic bones)

Joint Classification

• Joints are classified as:
  • Fibrous
  • Cartilaginous
  • Synovial

Bone Terminology

• Process: a relatively large projection or prominent bump on a bone.
• Articulation: the region where adjacent bones contact, forming a joint.
• Eminence: a relatively small projection or bump on a bone.
• Tuberosity: a projection or bump on a bone with a roughened surface.
• Trochanter: one of two specific tuberosities located on the femur.
• Spine: a relatively long, thin projection or bump on a bone.
• Suture: articulation between cranial bones.
• Condyle: a large, rounded articular process.
• Epicondyle: a projection near a condyle but not part of the joint
• Foramen: an opening through a bone.
• Fossa: a broad, shallow depressed area.
• Canal: a long, tunnel-like foramen, often for nerves or blood vessels.
• Sinus: a cavity within a cranial bone.

Long Bone Anatomy

• Diaphysis (shaft): the long, relatively straight main body of the bone, the region of primary ossification
• Epiphyses: the end regions, where secondary ossification occurs.
• Epiphyseal plate: a sheet of bone marking the fusion of epiphyses to the diaphysis, present in adults only.
• Head: The proximal articular end.
• Neck: The region between the head and body.