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Skeletal Structure NAMES
The A&P Student
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Selected names of bones and other skeletal structures pronounced and translated
Name of structure
Pronunciation
Translation of name
Acetabulum
Acromial end
Acromion
Adductor tubercle
Air sinuses
Ala (pl., alae)
Alveolar process
Anatomical neck
Angle
Vinegar cup
End near acromion (of scapula)
Shoulder extremity
Small bump of the bringer-in (muscles)
Air hollows
Wing
Trough (socket)-like projection
Structural narrowing below the head
Corner
Anterior inferior spine
Anterior superior spine
Apex
Arches of foot
ass-eh-TAB-yoo-lum
ah-KRO-mee-al end
ah-KRO-mee-un
ad-DUK –ter TOO-ber-kul
ayr SYE-nus-ez
AY-la or AL-ah (AY-lee or AL-ee)
al-VEE-oh-lar PRAH-ses
an-ah-TOM-i-kal nek
ANG-gul
an-TEER-ee-or (SAY-kral)
foh-RAM-in-ah
an-TEER-ee-or in-FEER-ee-or spyne
an-TEER-ee-or soo-PEER-ee-or spyne
AY-peks
ARCH-ez ov foot
Atlas
AT-las
Auditory ossicles
Auricular surface
AW-di-toh-ree OS-ik-ulz
ah-RIK-yoolar SUR-fess
Axis (epistropheus)
AK-sis (ep-i-STROH-fee-us)
Body
Calcaneus
Capitate
Capitulum
Carotid canal
(or foramen)
Carpal bones
BOD-ee
kal-KAY-nee-us
KAP-ee-tayt or KAP-i-tayt
kah-PITCH-uh-lum
Anterior (sacral) foramina
Cervical vertebrae
Clavicle
Coccyx
Condylar process
Coracoid process
Coronal suture
Coronoid fossa
Coronoid process
Costal cartilage
Coxal bone
(pelvic bone or coxa)
Crest
Cribriform plate
Crista galli
Cuboid
Deltoid tuberosity
kah-ROT-id kah-NAL
(foh-RAY-men or FO-ra-men)
Holes on the front (of the sacrum)
Front lower thorn
Front upper thorn
Tip
Curves of foot
Supporter (in Greek mythology, Atlas supported
the heavens [later mistaken as earth’s globe])
Little bones of hearing
Surface like a little ear
Axle or pivot (thing upon which something
turns)
Main part
Heel bone
Having a head
Little head
Canal (hole) of the carotid (sleep) artery
Bones of wrist
KAR-pal bohnz
SER-vi-kal VER-teh-bray
(VER-teh-bree)
KLAV-i-kul
KOK-sis
KON-dil-er PRAH-ses
KOH-rah-koyd PRAH-ses
ko-RO-nal SOO-chur
KOR-uh-noyd FOSS-ah
KOR-uh-noyd PRAH-ses
KOS-tal KAR-ti-lij
Joints of the neck
Little key or bolt
Cuckoo (beak)
Knuckle-like projection
Projection like a crow (beak)
Crown-related seam
Ditch for the crown-like (process)
Crown-like projection
Gristle of the rib
KOK-sal bohn
(PEL-vik bohn or KOK-sah)
Hip bone (basin bone or hip)
krest
KRIB-ri-form playt
KRIS-tah GAL-ee (or GAW-lee)
KYOO-boyd
DEL-toyd too-ber-AH-sih-tee
Ridge (comb)
Sieve-shaped plate
Chicken (cock) comb
Like a cube
Delta (Δ)-like bump
1
Name of structure
Pronunciation
Translation of name
Ethmoid bone
Ethmoid sinuses (cells)
Ethmoidal labyrinth
External acoustic meatus
(or canal)
External occipital
protuberance
False pelvis (or lesser pelvis)
False ribs
Femur
Fibula
Floating ribs
Fontanels
ETH-moyd bohn
ETH-moyd SYE-nus-ez (selz)
eth-MOYD-al LAB-i-rinth
Sieve-like bone
Hollows (storerooms) of ethmoid bone
Sieve-like maze
eks-TER-nal ak-OOS-tik mee-AYT-us
(kan-AL)
Outside hearing-related passage
eks-TER-nal ok-SIP-it-al pro-TOOB-erents
Outside, back-of-head projecting bumps
Foramen lacerum
Foramen magnum
Foramen ovale
Foramen rotundum
Foramen spinosum
Frontal bone
Frontal sinuses
Frontal tuberosity
(tuber or eminence)
Glabella
Glenoid cavity
Greater horn
Greater sciatic notch
Greater trochanter
Greater tubercle
Greater wings
Hamate (unciform)
Head
Horizontal plate
Humerus
Hyoid bone
Iliac crest
Iliac spines
Ilium
Incus
Inferior angle
Inferior articulating processes
Inferior nasal conchae
(sing., concha) or turbinates
Inferior nuchal line
Inferior orbital fissure
fals PEL-vis (LESS-er PEL-vis)
fals ribz
FEE-mur
FIB-yoo-lah
FLOHT-ing ribz
FON-tah-nelz
foh-RAY-men (or FO-ra-men)
LASS-er-um
foh-RAY-men (or FO-ra-men)
MAG-num
foh-RAY-men (or FO-ra-men)
oh-VAL-ee
foh-RAY-men (or FO-ra-men)
roh-TUN-dum
foh-RAY-men (or FO-ra-men)
spi-NO-sum
FRUN-tel bohn
FRUN-tel SYE-nus-ez
FRUN-tel too-ber-AH-sih-tee
(TOO-ber or EM-in-ents)
False basin
False ribs
Thigh
Clasp
Floating ribs
Little fountains
Lacerated hole
Huge hole
Oval hole
Round hole
Spiny (thorny) hole
Forehead (brow) bone
Forehead (brow) hollows
Forehead (brow) bump
glah-BEL-ah
GLEE-noyd KAV-i-tee
GRAYT-er horn
GRAYT-er sye-AT-ik notch
GRAYT-er troh-KAN-ter
(or TROH-kan-ter)
GRAYT-er TOO-ber-kul
GRAYT-er wingz
HAY-mayt or HAM-ayt (UN-si-form)
hed
hor-i-ZON-tal playt
HYOO-mer-us
HYE-oyd bohn
krest
spynez
IL-ee-um
IN-kus
in-FEER-ee-or ANG-gul
in-FEER-ee-or ar-TIK-yoo-layt-ing
PRAH-ses-ez
in-FEER-ee-or NAY-zal KONG-kee
(KONG-kah) or TUR-bih-naytz
Hairless
Hollow like an eye socket
Larger animal horn
Larger V-cut of hip
in-FEER-ee-or NOO-kel lyne
in-FEER-ee-or OR-bi-tal FISH-ur
Lower spinal-cord line
Lower split (crack) in eye socket
2
Bigger runner
Larger little bump
Larger wings
Hook-shaped
Head
Flat sheet like the horizon
Arm
U-like
Flank ridges
Flank thorns
Flank
Anvil
Lower corner
Lower joining projections
Lower, nose-related seashell (spinning-top-like)
Name of structure
Pronunciation
Translation of name
Inferior pubic ramus
Inferior temporal line
in-FEER-ee-or PYOO-bik RAY-mus
in-FEER-ee-or TEM-poh-ral lyne
in-frah-OR-bi-tal foh-RAY-men
(or FO-ra-men)
in-frah-OR-bi-tal MARJ-in
in-fra-SPY-nus FOSS-ah
in-ter-KON-dil-er EM-in-ents
in-trah-KON-dil-er FOSS-ah (notch)
in-ter-KON-dil-er lyne
Lower branch of groin
Lower line on temple of head
in-ter-MEE-dee-it KYOO-neh-form
Wedge-shaped (bone) in the middle (Roman 2)
in-ter-MEE-dee-it SAY-kral krest
in-TER-nal ak-OOS-tik mee-AYT-us
Ridge of the sacrum midway toward the middle
Inside, hearing-related passage
in-TER-nal ok-SIP-it-al
pro-TOOB-er-ents
Inside back-of-head projection
in-ter-troh-kan-TAYR-ik krest
in-ter-troh-KAN-ter-ik lyne
Ridge between trochanters (large bumps)
Line between runners
in-ter-too-BER-kyool-ar groov (SUL-kus)
Groove between little bumps
Infraorbital foramen
Infraorbital margin
Infraspinous fossa
Intercondylar eminence
Intercondylar fossa (notch)
Intercondylar line
Intermediate
cuneiform (II)
Intermediate sacral crest
Internal acoustic meatus
Internal occipital
protuberance
Intertrochanteric crest
Intertrochanteric line
Intertubercular groove
(sulcus)
Intervertebral foramina
Ischial spine
Ischial tuberosity
Ischium
Jugular foramen
Jugular fossa
Lacrimal bone
Lacrimal groove
Lambdoid(al) suture
Lamina
Lateral (axillary) border
Lateral angle
Lateral condyle
Lateral cuneiform (III)
Lateral epicondyle
Lateral malleolus
(pl., malleoli)
Lateral sacral crest
Lesser horn
Lesser sciatic notch
Lesser trochanter
Lesser tubercle
Lesser wings
Linea aspera
Longitudinal arches
Lumbar vertebrae
Lunate (semilunar)
Malleus
in-ter-VER-teh-bral (in-ter-ver-TEE-bral)
foh-RAM-in-ah
ISS-kee-al spyne
ISS-kee-al too-ber-AH-sih-tee
ISS-kee-um
JUG-yoo-lar foh-RAY-men (or FO-ramen)
JUG-yoo-lar FOSS-ah
LAK-ri-mal bohn
LAK-ri-mal groov
LAM-doyd(-al) SOO-chur
LAM-i-nah
LAT-er-al (AK-sil-lair-ee) BOHR-der
LAT-er-al ANG-gul
LAT-er-al KON-dyle
LAT-er-al KYOO-neh-form
LAT-er-al ep-i-KON-dyle
LAT-er-al MAL-lee-o-lus
(mal-LEE-o-lee or mal-LEE-o-lye)
LAT-er-al SAY-kral krest
LESS-er horn
LESS-er sye-AT-ik notch
LESS-er troh-KAN-ter
(or TROH-kan-ter)
LESS-er TOO-ber-kul
LESS-er wingz
LEEN-ee-ah (or LIN-ee-ah) ASS-per-ah
lon-jih-TOO-di-nal ARCH-ez
LUM-bar VER-teh-bray (VER-teh-bree)
LOON-ayt (sem-ee-LOON-er)
MAL-ee-us
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Below-eye-socket hole
Below-eye-socket edge
Depression below the spine
Raised thing between knuckles
Between-knuckle ditch
Line between knuckles
Holes between vertebrae
Hip thorn
Hip bump
Hip joint
Throat [vein] hole
Throat [vein] ditch
Tear-related bone
Tear-related groove
Lambda (λ)-like seam
Thin plate
Side (armpit)
Side corner
Side knuckle
Wedge-shaped (bone) to the side (Roman 3)
Side knuckle-end
Little hammer to the side
Ridge of the sacrum toward the side
Smaller animal horn
Smaller V-cut of hip
Smaller runner
Smaller little bump
Smaller wings
Rough line
Lengthwise curves
Joints of the loin
Moonlike (half-moon-like)
Hammer
Name of structure
Pronunciation
Translation of name
Mandible
Jawbone
Medial condyle
MAN-di-bal
man-DIB-yoo-lar foh-RAY-men
(or FO-ra-men)
man-DIB-yoo-lar FOSS-ah
mah-NOO-bree-um
MAS-toyd ayr selz
MAS-toyd POR-shun
MAS-toyd PRAH-ses
mak-SIH-lah (MAK-si-lair-ee bohn)
MAK-si-lair-ee SYE-nus
MEE-dee-al (VER-teh-bral or
ver-TEE-bral) BOHR-der
MEE-dee-al KON-dyle
Medial cuneiform (I)
MEE-dee-al KYOO-neh-form
Medial epicondyle
Medial malleolus
(pl., malleoli)
Medial sacral crest
Mental foramen
Metacarpal bones
Metatarsal bones
Nasal bone
Navicular (scaphoid)
Neck
Neural arch
MEE-dee-al ep-i-KON-dyle
Middle knuckle
Wedge-shaped (bone) toward the middle
(Roman 1)
Middle knuckle-end
MEE-dee-al MAL-lee-o-lus
Little hammer toward the middle
MEE-dee-al SAY-kral krest
MEN-tal foh-RAY-men (or FO-ra-men)
met-ah-KAR-pal bohnz
met-ah-TAR-sal bohnz
NAY-zal bohn
na-VIK-yoo-lar (SKAF-oyd)
nek
NOOR-al arch
OB-tyoor-ayt-or foh-RAY-men
(or FO-ra-men)
ok-SIP-it-al bohn
ok-SIP-it-al KON-dylez
oh-LEK-rah-non
oh-LEK-rah-non FOSS-ah
OP-tik kah-NAL (or foh-RAY-men [or
FO-ra-men])
PAL-ah-tyne bohn
PAL-ah-tyne PRAH-ses
pah-RYE-i-tal bohn
pah-TEL-ah
PED-i-kul
PEL-vik GERD-ul (BOHN-ee PEL-vis)
PEL-vik IN-let (brim)
PEL-vik OWT-let
per-pen-DIK-yoo-ler
playt
PET-rus (or PEET-rus) POR-shun
Ridge of the sacrum toward the middle
Chin hole
Bones after the wrist
Bones after the ankle
Nose-related bone
Boat-shaped
Narrowing below a head
Nerve-related curve
fah-LAN-jeez (fah-LANKS)
Ranks of soldiers
PY-zi-form (LEN-ti-form)
pohs-TEER-ee-or (SAY-kral)
foh-RAM-in-ah
pohs-TEER-ee-or in-FEER-ee-or spyne
Pea-shaped (lens-shaped)
Mandibular foramen
Mandibular fossa
Manubrium
Mastoid air cells
Mastoid portion
Mastoid process
Maxilla (maxillary bone)
Maxillary sinus
Medial (vertebral) border
Obturator foramen
Occipital bone
Occipital condyles
Olecranon
Olecranon fossa
Optic canal (or foramen)
Palatine bone
Palatine process
Parietal bone
Patella
Pedicles
Pelvic girdle (or bony pelvis)
Pelvic inlet (or brim)
Pelvic outlet
Perpendicular plate
Petrous portion
Phalanges
(sing., phalanx)
Pisiform (lentiform)
Posterior (sacral) foramina
Posterior inferior spine
4
Hole of jawbone
Ditch of the jaw
Handle
Breast-like air storerooms
Breast-like part
Breast-like projection
Upper jawbone
Upper jawbone hollow
Middle
Hole of the hole-obstructor (obturator muscles)
Back-of-head bone
Back-of-head knuckles
Head (cranium) of elbow
Ditch for the head (cranium) of elbow
Vision [nerve] canal (or hole)
Palate (mouth roof) bone
Projection related to palate (mouth roof)
Wall-related bone
Little pan (kneecap)
Foot stalks
Basin-like belt
Entrance (rim) of basin
Exit of basin (drain)
Right-angle plate
Rocky part
Holes on the back (of the sacrum)
Back lower thorn
Name of structure
Pronunciation
Translation of name
Posterior superior spine
Pterygoid process
Pubic arch
Pubic crest
Pubic symphysis
Pubic tubercle
Pubis (pl., pubes)
Radial groove (sulcus)
Radial notch
Radial tuberosity
Radius
Ramus
Sacral canal
Sacral hiatus
Sacral promontory
Sacrum
Sagittal suture
Scaphoid (navicular)
Scapula
Secondary curves
Sella turcica
Sphenoid bone
Sphenoid sinuses
Spinal (vertebral) foramen
Spine
Spinous process
pohs-TEER-ee-or soo-PEER-ee-or spyne
TER-i-goid PRAH-ses
PYOO-bik arch
PYOO-bik krest
PYOO-bik SIM-fi-sis
PYOO-bik TOO-ber-kul
PYOO-bis (PYOO-beez)
RAY-dee-al groov (SUL-kus)
RAY-dee-al notch
RAY-dee-al too-ber-AH-sih-tee
RAY-dee-us
RAY-mus
SAY-kral kah-NAL
SAY-kral hye-AY-tus
SAY-kral PRAH-mon-tor-ee
SAY-krum
SAJ-i-tal SOO-chur
SKAF-oyd (na-VIK-yoo-lar)
SKAP-yoo-lah
SEK-on-dair-ee kervz
SEL-lah TER-si-kah (or TER-ki-kah)
SFEE-noyd bohn
SFEE-noyd SYE-nus-ez
SPY-nal foh-RAY-men (or FO-ra-men)
spyne
SPY-nus PRAH-ses
SKWAY-muss (skwa-MOS-al)
SOO-chur
SKWAY-muss POR-shun
STAY-peez
STER-nel end
STER-num
sty-loh-MAS-toyd foh-RAY-men
(or FO-rah-men)
sub-PYOO-bik ANG-gul
sub-SKAP-yoo-lar FOSS-ah
soo-per-SIL-ee-air-ee arch (rij)
soo-PEER-ee-or (MEE-dee-al) ANG-gul
Back upper thorn
Wing-like projection
Curve of groin
Ridge (comb) of groin
Groin fibrocartilage-joint
Small bump of groin
Groin
Groove related to the radius
V-cut for the staff (radius)
Bump of the staff (radius)
Staff or spoke
Branch
Passage of the sacrum
Gap of sacrum
Jutting mountaintop of the sacrum
Sacred bone (possibly used in animal sacrifices)
Arrow-related seam
Boat-shaped
Shoulder
Second-order bends
Turkish chair or saddle
Wedge-like bone
Hollows of sphenoid bone
Spinal [cord] hole
Thorn
Spiny (thornlike) projection
Squamous (squamosal) suture
Squamous portion
Stapes
Sternal end
Sternum
Stylomastoid foramen
Subpubic angle
Subscapular fossa
Superciliary arch (ridge)
Superior (medial) angle
Superior and middle nasal
conchae (sing., concha) or
turbinates
Superior articular facet
Superior articulating
processes
Superior border
Superior nuchal line
Superior orbital fissure
Superior pubic ramus
Superior temporal line
Scale-like seam
Scale-like part
Stirrup
End near sternum
Breastbone
Styloid-mastoid hole
Corner under groin
Depression below the scapula
Eyebrow curves
Upper (middle) corner
soo-PEER-ee-or and MID-ul NAY-zal
KONG-kee (KONG-kah) or
TUR-bih-naytz
Upper and middle seashells (spinning tops)
soo-PEER-ee-or
Upper joint face
soo-PEER-ee-or ar-TIK-yoo-layt-ing
PRAH-ses-ez
Upper joining projections
soo-PEER-ee-or BOHR-der
soo-PEER-ee-or NOO-kel lyne
soo-PEER-ee-or OR-bi-tal FISH-ur
soo-PEER-ee-or PYOO-bik RAY-mus
soo-PEER-ee-or TEM-poh-ral lyne
Upper
Upper spinal-cord line
Upper split (crack) in eye socket
Upper branch of groin
Upper line on temple of head
5
Name of structure
Pronunciation
Translation of name
Supracondylar lines (ridges)
Supraorbital foramen
(sometimes notch)
Supraorbital margin
Supraspinous fossa
Surgical neck
Sutural bones (Wormian or
intrasutural bones)
Sutures
Talus
Tarsal bones
Temporal bone
Temporal process
soo-prah-KON-dil-er lynz (RIJ-ez)
Above-knuckle ridges
soo-prah-OR-bi-tal foh-RAY-men (or
FO-ra-men) (notch)
Above eye-socket hole
Thoracic vertebrae
Tibia
Tibial tuberosity
Transverse (or metatarsal)
arch
Transverse processes
Trapezium
(greater multangular)
Trapezoid
(lesser multangular)
Triquetrum (triangular,
cuneiform or pyramidal)
Trochlea
Trochlear notch
True pelvis (or greater pelvis)
True ribs
Tubercle
Ulna
Vertebral column
Vomer bone
Xiphoid process
Zygomatic arch
Zygomatic bone (malar bone)
Zygomatic process
soo-prah-OR-bi-tal MARJ-in
soo-pra-SPY-nus FOSS-ah
SERJ-ik-al nek
SOO-shur-al bohnz (WUR-mee-en or
in-trah-SOO-shur-el bohnz)
SOO-churz
TAY-lus
TAR-sal bohnz
TEM-poh-ral bohn
TEM-poh-ral PRAH-ses
thoh-RASS-ik VER-teh-bray
(VER-teh-bree)
TIB-ee-ah
TIB-ee-al too-ber-AH-sih-tee
Above eye-socket edge
Depression above the spine
Narrowing below head of clinical interest
Seam-related (Ole Worm, Danish anatomist;
within suture) bones
Seams
Anklebone or knucklebone
Ankle bones
Bone temple of head
Projection toward the temporal bone
Joints of the chest (thorax)
Shinbone
Bump of the shinbone
tranz-VERS (met-ah-TAR-sal) arch
Turned-across (or after-the-ankle) curve
tranz-VERS PRAH-ses-ez
Turned-across projections
tra-PEEZ-ee-um
(GRAYT-er mul-TANG-yoo-lar)
Table (larger many-angled)
TRAP-eh-zoyd
(LESS-er mul-TANG-yoo-lar)
try-KWET-rum or try-KWEET-rum (tryANG-yoo-lar, KYOO-neh-form, or
pih-RAM-id-al)
TROK-lee-ah
TROK-lee-ar notch
troo PEL-vis (GRAYT-er PEL-vis)
troo ribz
TOO-ber-kul
UL-nah
VER-teh-bral (or ver-TEE-bral)
KAHL-um
VOH-mer bohn
ZYE-foyd PRAH-ses
zye-goh-MAT-ik arch
zye-goh-MAT-ik bohn (MAY-ler or
MAY-lar bohn)
zye-goh-MAT-ik PRAH-ses
Table-like (smaller many-angled)
Three-cornered (three-angled, wedge-shaped, or
pyramid-like)
Pulley
V-cut for the pulley
True basin
True ribs
Small bump
Elbow
Pillar of joints
Plowshare bone
Swordfish-like projection
Curve of the cheekbone
Yoke-related (cheek-related) bone
Projection related to zygomatic (cheek) bone
NOTES:
1. Bone structure names are arranged alphabetically, not by location, structure, or function.
2. In Latin, modifiers follow the terms they describe. Thus, foramen magnum can be translated in exact parallel as
“hole that is huge” but is best rendered as “huge hole.”
3. Literal translations of structure names may be helpful in locating them or remembering their shape or function.
However, they are not necessarily accurate or complete descriptions of the structure.
4. Some alternate pronunciations are given here but many other pronunciations are possible.
oopti
© Kevin Patton at lionden.com Rev. 20 SEP 13 For reuse, please contact permissions@lionden.com
Some material adapted by permission from Anatomy & Physiology by Patton & Thibodeau (Mosby/Elsevier)
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