ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY STUDY GUIDE – THE AXIAL SKELETON
1. List the 3 major portions of the axial skeleton. SKULL, BONY THORAX &
VERTEBRAL COLUMN
2. Name the two sets of bones that make up the skull. FACIAL & CRANIAL
3. Tell what each of the two sets of bones in the skull accomplishes. CRANIAL protective
brain case. FACIAL houses sinuses and makes up the facial structure.
4. What are sutures?SEAMS IN SKULL THAT JOIN THE VARIOUS SKULL PLATES
(CORONAL-FRONTAL & PARIETAL). THESE ARE ALSO WHERE ANTERIOR &
POSTERIOR FONTANELLES WERE DURING INFANCY
5. Which is the only moveable joint in the skull? TMJ (TEMPOROMANDIBULAR
JOINT)-MANDIBLE/JAWBONE
6. How many bones are in the cranium? 8 BONES (29 TOTAL IN THE SKULL) How
many are paired? THE SKULL PLATES-PARIETAL, TEMPORAL, OCCIPITAL,
MAXILLAE, MANDIBLE, PALATINE ARE PAIRED How many are single?
REMAINING BONES ARE SINGLE
7. Tell the significance of each of the following: external auditory meatus,ENTRYWAY TO
EAR CANAL styloid process, MANY NECK MUSCLE ATTACH HERE zygomatic process
PROVIDES CHEEKBONE STRUCTURE, mastoid process UTILIZED FOR CHEWING,
jugular foramen HOLE WHERE JUGULAR VESSELS PASS THROUGH TO BRAIN.
8. Why is an infection in the mastoid sinuses dangerous? MASTOIDITIS IS VERY CLOSE
TO THE BRAIN AND IT IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO DISLODGE AN
INFECTION LIKE ONE WOULD THROUGH PARANASAL SINUSES.
9. What is the function of the foramen magnum? PROVIDES ENTRYWAY FOR
VERTEBRAL COLUMN (SPINAL CORD)
10.What is the function of the sella turicica or “Turk’s saddle”?HOUSES PITUITARY
GLAND
11.What is the function of the foramen ovale? TRIGEMINAL (3RD BRANCH
(MANDIBULAR)CRANIAL NERVE EXITS THIS HOLE. SOME HEARING (OTIC
PROCESSING MAY BE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS STRUCTURE)
12.How do nerve fibers carrying impulses from the olfactory receptors get through the skull
and to the brain? OLFACTORY BULBS ON THE ROOF OF THE SKULL ALLOW
FOR SCENT MOLECULES TO BE PERCEIVED.
13.How many bones compose the face? 28(14 facial region)
14.Which ones of these are single bones? MANDIBLE
15.What is the common name for the maxillae? UPPER JAW
16.Name the two functions of the paranasal sinuses. SOUND RESONANCE & SPEECH
17.What causes sinusitis? INFLAMMATION OF THE SINUS PASSAGES
18.What abnormality results if the palatine bones fail to fuse during development? CLEFT
PALATE
19.What is the common name of the zygomatic bones? CHEEKBONES
20.What bone forms the bridge of your nose? NASAL
21.Of what material is the tip of your nose composed? CARTILAGE
22.What bone forms the septum in your nose? VOMER
23.What it the common name of the mandible? JAWBONE
24.What makes the hyoid bone unique? THE ONLY BONE NOT DIRECTLY ATTACHED
TO THE SKELETON
25.What is the function of the hyoid bone? ANCHORS THE TONGUE
26.List three ways that an infant’s skull is different from that of an adult. FONTANELLES,
SHAPE , PROPORTIONATE HEIGHT TO BODY.
27.What are fontanels? FIBROUS MEMBRANES BETWEEN SKULL What is their
common name? SOFT SPOTS
28.What are the two purposes of the baby’s skull have fontanels? TO ALLOW FOR
EXPANSION OF BRAIN
29. What happens to the fontanels as the baby grows? THEY OSSIFY AND FORM
SUTURES
30.Name three functions of the vertebral column. SUPPORT, MOBILITY AND NERVE
TRANSMISSION
31.How many bones are in the vertebral column? 31
32.Which type of bones are these? IRREGULAR
33.How many bones are in the spine before birth? 33
34.What happens to the extra nine bones that are not separate bones after birth? They fuse
into the sacrum and coccyx
35.Name the two composite bones formed by the fusing of these 9 bones. Sacral 5 coccyx 4
36.How many bones are in each of the following sections of the spine? Cervical 7, thoracic
12, lumbar 5
37.What separates the vertebrae? What type of tissue are these made of? Vertebral disks/
hyaline cartilage
38.What is the purpose of these discs? Shock Absorption & protection
39.What happens to the water content of these discs with age? It decreases over time.
40.What is a herniated disc? What causes this condition? A slipped disc.
41.Which curvatures of the spine are primary curvatures? Why are they named this?
42.Which curvature appears when a baby can raise its head? Cervical
43.Which curvature appears when a baby begins to walk? Lumbar
44.Define each of these conditions: scoliosis, a lateral curvature abnormal to the typical
vertebral column, kyphosis a cervical curvature associated with “hunch back”, lordosis
an extreme lumbar curvature where the pelvis tilts more anteriorly often seen in pregnant
and obese.
45.Give the names of the C1 and C2 vertebrae. Atlas and axis
46.Which joint allows you to nod “yes”. Which allows you to move your head side to side
to indicate “no”? Dens & odontoid process.
47.What is the significance of the thoracic vertebrae? Attaches to ribs and provides bony
thorax support
48.Describe the shape of lumbar vertebrae. Large and block like How is their shape related
to their function? Support the weight of the skeleton
49.Which fused bone forms the posterior wall of the pelvis? Sacrum
50.Which fused bone is the remnant of the human “tailbone”? Coccyx
51.Which vertebrae contain foramina in the transverse processes, through which the
vertebral arteries ascend to reach the brain? Cervical
52.Which type of vertebra(e) have transverse processes that have facets for articulation with
the ribs? Thoracic
53.Which bone is a composite bone that articulates with the hip bone laterally? Pelvic Bone
54.Which bones make up the bony thorax? Flat bones ( ribs)& sternum
55.Where are sample of blood-forming tissues taken for the diagnosis of suspected blood
diseases? Bone marrow (Used to screen for WBC White blood cell count- a measure of
the immune system response).
56.How many ribs does EVERYONE have? 12 pairs
57.To what structure are all ribs attached? Sternum
58.Which ribs are
7 true ribs
5false ribs?
2 floating ribs (Included in the False Rib Count)-12 ribs total Floating ribs don’t wrap
around to meet the sternum.
59.What is the space between ribs called? With what are these spaces filled? Hyaline
Cartilage (Intercostal Spaces)