Biology 2121 – Chapter 7 – Skeletal System
What to Study for Chapter 7
(1). You are responsible for any bone you previously studied in the laboratory part of the course:
(A). Be able to identify the bone
(B). Answer questions about a bone

Classify as long, short, flat, irregular

Part of the appendicular or axial skeleton

Given a description or function
(2). Complete the guided independent study below.
I. The Axial Skeleton
Occipital Bone
(1). The nuchal lines anchor ____________ and ___________ muscles.
(2). What is the function of the ligamentum nuchae?
_________________________________________________
(3). You can feel this knob-like bulge on the posterior part of your skull. _____________________
Temporal Bone
(1). Where does sound enter the ear? ___________________ (2). The ___________ process is an
attachment point for tongue and neck muscles.
(2). What is the function of the mastoid process? ____________________
(3). Which opening in this part of the skull serves as a passageway for cranial nerve VII?
________________. This is also referred to as the ____________ nerve.
(4). What is the function of the jugular foramen? ___________________________________
(5). What is the function of the carotid canal? __________________________________
(6). Which cranial nerves pass through the internal acoustic meatus? ____________________. What is
the name of cranial nerve VIII? ________________________
(7). The ___________________ fossa supports the temporal lobes of the brain. The ______________
bone and the _______________ part of the temporal bone constructs this fossa.
Sphenoid Bone
(1). Why is the sphenoid referred to as the ‘keystone’ bone of the skull?
______________________________
(2). What is the function of the Sella Turcica? __________________________
(3). The _______________ provides an anchoring site for securing the brain in the skull.
(4). The _____________ process anchors the pterygoid muscles which function in _______________.
(5). Which cranial nerve number ________ passes through the optic canal. Cranial nerves numbers
_________ pass through the _________________ fissure. Each of these nerves plays a part in
controlling ________ movement. The foramen ___________ allows for the passage of cranial
nerve V which allows the _________ and ______________ nerves to reach the face.
Ethmoid Bone
(1). The ethmoid bone lies between the ___________ and ____________ bones.
(2). The _____________ plates contain tiny openings or holes called _______________ foramina. What
do these tiny holes allow for?
(3). The term refers to the sense of _________________.
(4). Sitting on top of the cribiform plate is the _____________. The dura mater of the ________
attaches to this part of the crista galli. What is dura mater?
_____________________________________________________
(5). The ____________ plate of the ethmoid bone and the ______________ bone form the nasal septum.
Facial Bones – Mandible
(1). Name the bones or structures of the TMJ joint:
__________________________________________________
(2). What is the function of the alveolar margins? ______________________________________
(3). The ____________________ allow for the passage of nerves that serve the teeth and lower jaw.
The ________________ allow for blood vessels and nerves to pass to the skin of the chin.
Facial Bones – Maxillary Bones
(1). What is the function of the incisive fossa? _____________________
(2). What is the function of the inferior orbital fissure? ____________________________________
Lacrimal Bone
(1). The lacrimal bones contain a ________________ from which tears drain.
Palatine Bones
(1). These bones are made of two plates the ____________ and ____________ plates. The
_____________ plates make up the posterior portion of the hard palate of the mouth. The
_______________ plates help form part of the walls of the nasal cavity and part of the orbits.
Conchae
(1). There are ____________ conchae, _______ in the ethmoid bones and _______, the inferior conchae
in the nasal cavity.
(2). What are the conchae covered with? _________________________________. Which are the largest
of the three? _____________________. As air enters the nose what do they do?
__________________________
Orbits
(1). The eyes are set into the orbits. The walls of each orbit are formed by parts of _______ bones.
These bones are __________________________________________. They contain __________ tissue
which allows the eyes to be cushioned.
Nasal Cavity
(1). What type of cartilage is the nasal cavity made of? ___________________ What forms the roof?
__________
(2). The lateral walls are formed by the _____________________________________________
(3). The floor is formed by the ____________________________.
(4). The cavity is divided into right and left halves by the _________________.
Hyoid Bone
(1). This is the only bone in the body that does not ______________________________________.
(2). It acts as a moveable base for the ________________ and the ________________ are attachment
sites for muscles of the ___________, raise and lower the ____________ during swallowing and
speech.
Vertebrae and the Vertebral Column
(1). This column consists of __________ bones.
(2). How many of these bones fuse? _____________ These fused bones form the ________ and
________.
(3). There are _________ cervical, _____________ thoracic and ___________ lumbar vertebrae.
(4). Which vertebrae curve in a concave posterior manner? ______________ Convex posteriorly?
___________
(5). Distinguish between scoliosis, kyphosis and lordosis.
(6). Which are the major supporting ligaments of the vertebrae? ___________________________
(7). Which prevents hyperextension of the spine? ____________ Which prevents hyperflexion?
____________
(8). What is the function of the ligamentum flavum? ___________________ What is it made of?
_____________
(9). The disc of the vertebrae is made up of an inner ______________ and outer ______________.
(10). Which is more of a liquid? ___________These disc are made up of ________________ connective
tissue.
(11). Describe what happens when a disc slips.
___________________________________________________
Structure of a Vertebrae
(1). For each of the following processes, state its function:

Spinous and transverse –

Articular -
(2). The ____________ foramina allow for the ____________ nerves to pass.
Comparison of Vertebrae – Study table 7.2
Sacrum
(1). Which part of the sacrum and ox coxae form the sacroiliac joint? _________________________
Thoracic Cage - Sternum
(1). The superior part of the sternum is called the ______________. Which part articulates with the
clavicles? __________________. The most inferior part is called the _______________ and serves
to attach to _______________ muscles.
(2). The ______________ notch is the point where the left common carotid artery comes out of the
aorta.
(3). What articulates at the sterna angle? ______________________
Ribs
(1). Distinguish between the true and false ribs.
(2). There are __________ pairs of true ribs, ______________ pairs of false ribs and _____pairs of
floating ribs.
(3). They are called floating ribs because ____________________________________________________