THE AXIAL SKELETON

Includes: Temporal Bones

Skull - The temporal bone contributes to the
• Cranium lower lateral walls of the skull.
• Face - It contains the middle and inner portions
Hyoid bone of the ear, and is crossed by the majority
Auditory ossicles of the cranial nerves.
Vertebral column
Thorax Occipital Bone
• Sternum - Forms posterior part and most of the
• Ribs cranial base Serves primarily to protect
the cerebellum and the occipital lobes of
the cerebrum
Cerebellum - responsible for
The Skull coordinating voluntary movements
- Contains 22 bones Cerebrum - responsible for receiving
- 8 Cranial Bones that enclose and protect the brain and giving meaning to information from
- 14 Facial Bones that form the face the sense organ

Frontal Bone Sphenoid Bone

- Forms forehead, roofs of the eye The “keystone” of the cranial floor
sockets (orbits), and most of the front because it holds together all of the
part of the cranial floor other cranial bones Its many
- The frontal bone supports the front articulations with other bones give
and back of the skull while also the skull rigidity
offering protect to the frontal lobe of
the brain
Ethmoid Bone
Parietal Bone Light spongy bone in the anterior
- Form the sides and roof of the part of cranial floor between the eye
cranial cavity sockets It forms part of the nasal cavity
- Separated on top of skull by the and the orbits. It is the main mechanical
sagittal suture support structure of the nasal cavity.
FACIAL BONES Unique Skull Features
Nasal Bones
- Paired to form the Coronal Suture
bridge of the nose - Between the frontal
- The rest of the nose bone and two parietal
consists of cartilage bones
Maxilla Sagittal Suture
- Paired to form the - Between the two
upper jawbone parietal bones
- Articulates with every Lambdoid Suture
bone in the face except - between the parietal bones and occipital bone
the mandible Squamous Suture
- Forms the anterior 3/4 - between the parietal bones and temporal bones
of the hard palate
Palatine Bones Hyoid Bone
- Paired L-shaped bones - Does not articulate with or attach to
- Form the posterior portion of the hard palate, part of the floor any other bone
and lateral wall of the nasal cavity, and a small portion of the - It holds up the tongue, which sits
eye sockets above it, and it holds up the larynx,
Mandible which hangs below it.
- The lower jawbone - It also transmits the force of muscles
- Largest and strongest facial bone and only movable skull bone that help to open the jaw.
Zygomatic Bones Auditory Ossicles
- Two cheekbones - Are three bones in either middle ear
- Form the prominences of the cheeks and part of the lateral that are among the smallest bones in
wall and floor of the eye sockets the human body
Lacrimal Bones - They serve to transmit sounds from
- Paired smallest bones of the face the air to the fluid-filled labyrinth
- Found near the tear ducts (cochlea).
Inferior Nasal Concha - The absence of the auditory ossicles
- Scroll-like bones that project into the nasal cavity would constitute a moderate-to-severe
- Are below the ethmoid bone and other conchae hearing loss
- It helps to filter and humidify the air that we breathe
Vomer Triangular
- bone that separates the nasal cavity into left and right sides
Vertebral Column Cervical Vertebrae
- Also called the spine or - The cervical spine functions to provide mobility and stability to
backbone the head while connecting it to the relatively immobile thoracic
- Composed of vertebrae spine.
Functions as strong flexible Atlas (C1 Vertebra)
rod that can rotate and move - The C1 vertebra, known as the atlas, is the superiormost
in all directions vertebra in the spinal column.
- Encloses and protects spinal - It plays vital roles in the support of the skull, spinal cord, and
cord vertebral arteries and provides attachment points for several
- Supports the skull Point of muscles of the neck. allows you to nod “yes”
attachment for ribs, pelvic Axis (C2 Vertebra)
girdle, and back muscles - The axis is the second of seven bones in the cervical spine.
creates a pivoting action that allows the C1, or atlas, to rotate.
Regions of the Vertebrae allows you to nod “no”
7 cervical vertebrae in the neck Remaining Cervical Vertebrae
12 thoracic vertebrae - C3 - C6 all follow the normal anatomy of the typical vertebra
5 lumbar vertebrae supporting the lower back - C7 is also called the vertebra prominens; it has a single, large
1 sacrum (consists of 5 fused sacral vertebrae) spinous process that can be felt at the base of the neck
1 coccyx (consists of 4 fused coccygeal vertebrae) Thoracic Vertebrae (T1 - T12)
- Much larger and stronger than cervical vertebrae
Intervertebral Discs - The main function of the thoracic spine is to hold the rib cage
- Lie in between the vertebrae and protect the heart and lungs
from the 2nd cervical Lumbar Vertebrae (L1 - L5)
vertebrae to the sacrum - Largest and strongest of the column
- Form strong joints, permit - The main function of the lumbar spine is to bear the weight of
movement, and absorb the body
vertical shock - These vertebrae are much larger in size to absorb the stress
of lifting and carrying heavy objects
Vertebral Column Curvature Sacrum
- The spine curves like a snake - Triangular bone formed by the fusion of 5 sacral vertebrae.
- Cervical and lumbar curves are convex (bulging out anteriorly) - Serves as strong foundation for the pelvic girdle
- Thoracic and sacral curves are concave (bulge out posteriorly) Coccyx
- Triangular shape formed by the fusion of 4 coccygeal
vertebrae
- The top articulates with the sacrum
- Acts as one insertion point for the muscles of the pelvic floor
Thorax True Ribs
- 1st through 7th pairs of ribs
Thoracic Cage - Have a direct anterior attachment to the sternum by costal
- Bony cage formed by the cartilage
sternum, costal cartilages, False Ribs
ribs, and bodies of the - 8th through 12th pairs of ribs
thoracic vertebrae - Costal cartilages either attach indirectly to the sternum or not
- Encloses and protects the at all
organs of the thoracic - Cartilages of ribs pairs 8- 10 attach to each other and the
cavity and upper abdominal cartilages of the 7th pair of ribs
cavity Floating Ribs
- Provides support for the bones of the shoulder and upper - 11th and 12th pair of ribs are also called floating ribs
limbs - The costal cartilage at their anterior ends does not attach to
the sternum at all Attach only posteriorly to the thoracic
Sternum vertebra
- Flat, narrow bone located in
the center of the anterior
thoracic wall
- Also known as the
breastbone
- Consists of three parts
(manubrium, body, xiphoid
process)

- The manubrium is the upper

part, articulating with the
clavicles and first and second ribs.
- The body is the largest and middle part, articulating directly or
indirectly with the 2nd-10th ribs.
- The xiphoid process is the lowest and smallest part that has
some abdominal muscles attached to it
Ribs
- Twelve pairs make up the sides of the thoracic cavity
- Each rib articulates posteriorly with its corresponding thoracic
vertebra
THE APPENDICULAR SKELETON Functions of Clavicles
- It includes bones of the upper and - Provide attachment for muscles Hold the scapula and arms
lower limbs laterally
- The primary function is movement - Transmit compression forces from the upper limbs to the axial
- Girdles attach the limbs to the axial skeleton
skeleton
Pectoral girdle Scapula – posterior: shoulder blade
- Attaches the upper limbs to the trunk - Triangular, paired, but don’t connect in back (adds thoracic
flexibility)
Pelvic girdle
- Attaches the lower limbs to the trunk The Upper Limb or Upper Extremity
- 30 bones form each upper limb
Upper and lower limbs - Arm or Brachium = upper arm
- Differ in function but share the same Between shoulder and elbow
structural plan (humerus)
- Forearm or Antebrachium: Radius &
The Pectoral Girdle ulna
- Consists of the clavicle - Hand includes: Wrist (carpal) Palm
and the scapula (metacarpal) Fingers (phalanges)
- Provides attachment for
many muscles that ARM
move the upper limb - Region of the upper limb between the
Girdle is very light and shoulder and elbow
upper limbs are mobile - Humerus - The only bone of the arm
- Pectoral girdles do not Longest and strongest bone of the upper limb
quite encircle the body - Articulates with the scapula at the shoulder
completely - Articulates with the radius and ulna at the elbow Humerus
- Medial end of each provide sites for muscle attachment
clavicle articulates with the manubrium and first rib Forearm
- Laterally – the ends of the clavicles join the scapula Scapula - Formed from the radius and ulna
do not join each other or the axial skeleton - Proximal ends articulate with the humerus
- Distal ends articulate with carpals
Clavicle – anterior: collar bone
- Extend horizontally across the superior thorax
- Sternal end articulates with the manubrium
- Acromial end articulates with scapula
Ulna 1. Ilium – Superior Region
- Main bone responsible for forming the elbow joint with the 2. Ischium - Posteroinferior region
humerus 3. Pubis - Anterior region
- Hinge joint allows forearm to bend on arm
- Distal end is separated from carpals by fibrocartilage Plays Pelvic Structures and Childbearing
little to no role in hand movement ● Major differences between male and female pelves
Radius ● Female pelvis is adapted for childbearing
- The radius‘ main functions are to articulate with the ulna and ● Pelvis is lighter, wider, and shallower than in the male.
humerus at the elbow to provide supination and pronation.
Hand
- Includes the following bones
- Carpals – wrist
- Metacarpals – palm
- Phalanges – fingers

Carpals, Metacarpals and Phalanges

- Carpals (Wrist Bone) There are eight carpal bones in each
wrist.
- Metacarpals (Bones in the Palm) There are five metacarpal
bones in each hand.
- Phalanges (Bones of the digits or fingers) There are proximal,
intermediate, and distal phalanges in each digit except for the
thumb, which lacks an intermediate phalange

Pelvic Girdle (Hip Girdle)

- Strongly attached to axial
skeleton (sacrum)
- More stable than
pectoral (shoulder) girdle
- Less freedom of
movement Made up of
the paired hip bones
Hip Bones/Coxal Bones (OS
Coxae)
Composed of 3 separate bones
in childhood which fuse
The Lower Limb or Lower Extremity
- Thigh: femur
Leg (lower leg)
- Tibia
- Fibula
- Foot
The Lower Limb or Lower Extremity
- Carries the entire weight of the
erect body
- Bones of lower limb are thicker and
stronger than those of upper limb
Femur (Thigh Bone)
- The region of the lower limb
between the hip and the knee
Femur – the single bone of the thigh
- Longest and strongest bone of the
body
Patella (Knee cap)
Protection – protects the anterior aspect of
the knee joint from physical trauma
Movement – helps in leg extension
Leg
- Refers to the region of the lower limb between the knee and
the ankle Composed of the tibia and fibula
Tibia – more massive medial bone of the leg Receives weight of the
body from the femur
Fibula – stick-like lateral bone of the leg
Stabilizes the ankle joint
The Foot
- Important functions:
- Supports body weight
- Acts as a lever to propel body
forward when walking
- Tarsus: 7 tarsal bones
- Talus: articulates with tibia and
fibula anteriorly and calcaneus
posteriorly
- Calcaneus: heel bone
- Smaller cuboid, navicular, and 3 cunieforms (medial,
intermediate and lateral)
- 5 metatarsals
- 14 phalanges
- Great toe is hallux