AXIAL SKELETON Lab
PART I: THE SKULL
<*Identify these 22 bones listed below on drawings AND skull models.>
Use textbook pgs. 145-48 for additional (colored-coded) diagrams.
A. The CRANIAL Bones – 8 bones that surround & protect the brain.
1. Frontal bone (1) – large, single, anterior bone that forms the forehead
2. Parietal bones (2) – paired bones that make up most of the top of the head posterior to the frontal bone.
3. Occipital bone (1) – large, single bone at back of head posterior to parietals; joins w/ 1st cervical vertebrae.
4. Temporal bones (2) – paired bones at the sides of the skull inferior to the parietals.
5. Sphenoid bone (1) – large, single bone that forms most of the floor of the cranium;
“keystone of cranial floor” – articulates with all other cranial bones.
6. Ethmoid bone (1) – single bone on the inner surface of the cranium anterior to sphenoid;
principle supporting structure of the nasal cavity.
B. The FACIAL Bones – 14 bones that form the anterior part of the skull.
1. Nasal bones (2) – small, paired bones that form the bridge of the nose.
2. Maxillary (maxilla) bones (2) – large, paired bones that form the anterior hard palate of the upper jaw;
location of paranasal sinuses.
3. Palatine bones (2) – paired bones in mouth cavity forming posterior hard palate of upper jaw.
*Cleft Palate = incomplete fusion of horizontal plates of palatine bones before birth!
4. Lacrimal bones (2) – small, paired bones located within the orbit of the eye and posterior to the
uppermost portion of the maxillaries; “orbit of eye.”
5. Zygomatic bones (2) – paired bones that articulate with the maxillaries; known as the “cheek bones.”
6. Vomer bone (1) – single, “dagger-shaped” bone in center & bottom of nasal cavity superior to maxillaries;
best viewed from INFERIOR side of skull.
7. Inferior Nasal Concha bones (2) – paired, flat bones that form the LATERAL walls of nasal cavity.
8. Mandible (1) – single bone that forms the lower jaw; contains all the teeth in lower jaw; joins with
temporal bones to form the ONLY freely moveable joint in the skull !
Practice Questions: Part I -- The Skull
1. The total number of cranial bones is ________.
2. The dagger-shaped bone in nasal cavity is the _________________.
3. Bone that forms the forehead is the ____________________.
4. The cheek bones are the: ____________________.
5. The total number of facial bones is _________.
6. Bone that forms the bridge of the nose is the _____________.
7. Bone that forms back of skull: _______________.
8. Bone that makes up the posterior hard palate: _____________.
9. Bone that makes up the anterior hard palate: _______________.
10. Bone that makes up the lower jaw: ___________________.
PART II: Vertebral Column, Sternum, & Ribs
<*Identify these bones listed below on drawings AND skeleton models.>
Use textbook pgs. 150-158 for additional (colored-coded) diagrams.
A. Vertebral Column – bones that surround and protect the spinal cord.
1. Parts of a vertebrae:
a. Spinous process – posterior projection that serves as a point
of attachment for muscles; most posterior part of vertebrae.
b. Vertebral foramen – central canal through which spinal cord passes.
c. Body (centrum) – large circular area anterior to vertebral foramen
that forms the joints at the intervertebral discs.
d. Transverse process – lateral projections; serve as muscle attachments.
e. Articular process – smooth surfaces that join with other vertebrae.
2. Types of Vertebrae
a. Cervical – 7 vertebrae in the neck region. The first two are highly specialized to form the type
of joint that enables the head to turn/pivot: the first cervical vertebrae (C1) is called the atlas
and the second cervical vertebrae (C2) is called the axis.
b. Thoracic – 12 vertebrae in the upper back region. They are characterized by long spinous
process. Each vertebrae joins with a pair of ribs.
c. Lumbar – 5 vertebrae in the lower back. They are generally larger & heavier than other
vertebrae to bear the large amount of the body’s weight.
d. Sacral – single, large vertebrae; for added strength for a triangle-shaped bone.
e. Coccyx – one vestigial (nonfunctional) bone of vertebral column which represents the tailbone.
B. Sternum & Ribs
1. Sternum – 3 bones composing the breastbone.
a. Manubrium – superior portion
b. Body (gladiolus) – middle/largest portion
c. Xiphoid Process – inferior/smallest portion
2. Ribs – 12 pairs that join with vertebral column.
a. “True” Ribs – 7 pairs that join with sternum by
their OWN costal cartilage.
b. “False” Ribs – 3 pairs that connect to sternum
by attaching to the cartilage of rib #7.
c. “Floating” Ribs – 2 pairs that do NOT connect
to sternum; only attach to thoracic vertebrae.
Axial Skeleton Lab
Anatomy/Physiology
Name __________________________
Date ________________ Period _____
<Use Textbook pages 145-158 and the skull coloring sheet to answer the following questions.>
1. Name the 3 major components of the axial skeleton:
a.
b.
c.
2. Define a suture:
3. What is the only freely moveable bone of the skull? _____________________
4. List 2 functions of sinuses:
a.
b.
5. Why is the sphenoid bone called the “keystone of the cranial floor?”
6. Name the SKULL bone that is described below:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
bone forming anterior cranium bone; “forehead” : ___________________
“cheekbone”: ___________________
anterior bone of upper jaw: _________________
bony skeleton of nose: ______________
site of ear canal (auditory meatus); “sides of skull”: ________________
facial bone with sinuses: _________________
posterior cranial bone that joins with atlas: _________________
*not really a skull bone (no articulation with other bones): ________________
7. Label the specific regions of the sternum & ribs in the thorax diagram below:
a. “
“
ribs
b. __________________
(sternum region)
8. Name the part of the thoracic vertebrae that forms the point of articulation with a rib: _________________
9. What is the name given to the first cervical vertebrae (C1)? ________________
10. What is the cavity in the vertebra through which the spinal cord passes? ________________________
11. What is the function of the transverse process? ________________________________
12. Which part of a vertebra is the most posterior? __________________
13. What is a herniated (“slipped”) disc?
14. What is the structural difference between an individual thoracic vertebrae and a lumbar vertebrae?
15. Name the sections of the vertebral column AND designate the # of vertebrae in each:
= ____
= ____
= ____
= ____
= ____