ORGANIZATION OF THE SKELETON
Organization
The bones of the body are categorized into two groups:
The axial skeleton and the appendicular skeleton.
The bones of the axial skeleton revolve around the vertical axis of
the skeleton.
While the bones of the appendicular skeleton make up the limbs
that have been appended to the axial skeleton.
Axial skeleton bones (80 bones)
General Description Name of Bone No. of Bones Additional
Information
Cranium (8) Frontal 1
Parietal 2
Temporal 2
Sphenoid 1
Ethmoid 1
Occipital 1
Facial bones (14) Mandibal 1
Maxilla 2
Zygomatic bone 2
Nasal bone 2
Lacrimal bone 2
Palatine 2
Inferior nasal concha 2
vomer 1
Hyoid Hyoid 1
Ear ossicles Malleus, Incus, stapes 6 2 each
Vertebral column (26) Cervical vertebrae 7 C1-C7
Thoracic vertebrae 12 T1-T12
Lumbar vertebrae 5 L1-L5
Sacrum 1 5 fused S1-S5
Coccyx 1 3-5 fused
Thorax (thoracic cage Strenum 1
or bony thorax) True (7 pair) 14
Ribs
False (3 pair) 6
Ribs
False (Floating 4
Ribs [2 pairs]
ribs)
Appendicular Skeleton Bones (126 Bones)
General Description Name of Bone No. of Bones Additional Information
Pectoral girdle Clavicle 2 Collabrone
(shoulder girdle) Scapula 2 Shoulder blade
Upper limb (60) Humerus
Ulna 2
Radius 2
Carpals (16) 2
1. Scaphold 2
2. Trapezium 2
3. Capitate 2
4. Trapezoid 2
5. Lunate 2
6. Triquetrun 2
7. Pisiform 2
8. Hamate 2
Metacarpals 10
Phlalanges 28
Pelvic girdle (hip) (2) Coxal bones 2 Hip bones
1. Ilium (3 fused pairs)
2. Ischium
3. Pubis
Femur 2
Patella 2
Tibia 2
Fibula 2
Tarsal (14)
1. Talus 2
Lower limb (60) 2. Calcaneus 2
3. Cuboid 2 7 per ankle
4. Navicular 2
5. Medical cuneiform 2
6. Intermediate 2
cuneiform
7. Lateral cuneiform 2
Metatarsals 10 5 per foot
phalanges 28 3 per digit
Skull: Cranium and Facial Bones
The skull consist of 8 cranial bones and 14 facial bones.
The bones of the skull provide protection for the brain and the organs
of vision, taste, hearing, equilibrium, and smell.
The bones also provide attachment for muscles that move the head
and control facial expressions and chewing.
Some general features of the skull
Sutures are immovable interlocking joints that join skull bones together.
Fontanels are spaces between cranial bones that are filled with fibrous
membranes. The spaces provide flexibility for the skull when it passes through
the birth canal and for brain growth during infancy. Bone growth eventually fills
the spaces by age two.
Sutural (Wormian) bones are very small bones that develop within sutures. Their
number and location vary.
The cranial vault denotes the top, sides, front, and back of the cranium. The
cranial floor (base) denotes the bottom of the cranium.
Cranial fossae are three depressions in the floor of the cranium. These fossae,
called the anterior, middle, and posterior cranial fossae, provide spaces that
accommodate the shape of the brain.
The nasal cavity is formed by cartilage and several bones. Air entering the cavity
is warmed and cleansed by mucus lining the cavity.
Sinuses (paranasal sinuses) are mucus‐lined cavities inside cranial and facial
bones that surround the nasal cavity. The cavities secrete mucus that drains into
the nasal cavity. The cavities also act as resonance chambers that enhance vocal
(and singing) quality.
Thorax
The thorax cage includes the thoracic vertebrae, sternum, ribs, and costal
cartilage.
The sternum (breastbone) consist of three fused bones: the manubrium, body,
and xiphoid process.
There are 12 pairs of ribs.
All ribs articulate posteriorly with a corresponding thoracic vertebra.
Seven pairs of false ribs attach directly to the sternum with hyline cartilage
called costal cartilage.
Three pairs of false ribs do not attach to the sternum. They connect to the rib
directly above them.
Two pairs of false ribs do not attach to anything at their anterior ends.
Important features of a rib
The head is the end of the rib that articulates with the vertebral column.
The superior and inferior facets on the head articulate with the facets of the thoracic
vertebrae.
The neck, just beyond the head, bears a tubercle (rounded process) that articulates with
the facet of the vertebral transverse process.
The costal angle designates the sharp turn of the rib.
The costal groove, a passageway on the inside of the binding rib, provides for blood
vessels and intercostals nerves.
The body is the major part of the rib-that part beyond the costal angle.
Intercostals spaces, the areas between the ribs, are occupied by the intercostals muscles.
Pectoral girdle
Each of the pectoral (shoulder) girdle consists of two
bones:
The S-shaped clavicle and the flat, triangular scapula.
The clavicle articulates with sternum and the scapula.
In turn, the scapula articulates with the humerus of the
arm.
Upper limb
• The upper limb consist of the arm, forearm, and hand.
• The 30 bones of each upper limb.
Lower limb
• The thigh, leg, and foot constitute the lower limb.
• The bones of the lower limbs are considerably larger and stronger than
comparable bones of the upper limbs because the lower limbs must support the
entire weight of the body while walking, running, or jumping.
• 30 bones of each lower limb.
Pelvic girdle
The pelvic (hip) girdle transfer the weight of the upper body to the legs.
It consist of a pair of coxal bones each of which contains three fused bones:
Ilium, ischium, and pubis
Together with the sacrum and coccyx, the pelvic girdle forms a bowl-shaped
region.
The pelvis that protects internal reproductive organs, the urinary bladder, and the
lower part of the digestive tract.
Hyoid bone
Located in the neck.
The hyoid bone is isolated from all other bones.
It is connected by ligaments to the styloid
processes of the temporal bones.
Muscles from the tongue, neck, pharynx, and
larynx that attach to the hyoid bone contribute
to the movements involved in swallowing and
speech.
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