THE SKELETAL SYSTEM
Individual bones are composed of bone, cartilage, and
connective tissue; thus, they are organs, collectively
comprising the skeletal system.
Functions of the skeletal system are many, including:
supporting your body; protection of internal organs;
movement of specific body parts or entire body
(locomotion); production of blood cells in red bone
marrow; storage and release of minerals (esp. Ca and P
that comprise the ground substance of bone); energy
storage in yellow bone marrow of long bones (adipose
tissue/lipids).
There are 206 +/- bones that make up the human skeletal
system. The actual number of bones for any individual can
vary, usually as a result of incomplete fusion of fetal
bones.
During this lab, we will examine the gross anatomy of
bones. For ease of description and discussion, the skeletal
system is divided into two components: axial skeleton;
appendicular skeleton, although both components act as a
single system.
OBJECTIVES: WHAT TO KNOW FOR PRACTICAL
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Identify human bones by their proper anatomical
names.
Identify structures (in anatomy, referred to as: bone
markings) by their proper anatomical names on
specific human bones.
• Depending on your lab instructor, identify whether it
is a right or left side bone.
• Identify sutures of adult and fetal skull.
• Identify fontanels (“soft spots”) of fetal skull
KNOW FOR LAB PRACTICAL:
AXIAL SKELETON
ADULT SKULL: BONES; MARKINGS
• Cranial bones: must also identify in cranial cavity
o markings: must identify those indicated in
cranial cavity
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Frontal
o no markings
Parietal (pa-RIE-e-tul)
o no markings
Occipital (ok-SIP-it-ul)
o foramen magnum; occipital condyles
Temporal (TEM-por-ul)
o external auditory meatus; mastoid process;
zygomatic process
Sphenoid (SFEE-noid)
o sella turcica
See Textbook (Superior view of floor of cranium),
Atlas; located on cranial floor
o Superior orbital fissure
Ethmoid (ETH-moid)
o cribriform plate; crista galli
See Textbook (Superior view of floor of cranium),
Atlas; both are located on cranial floor
o perpendicular plate
See Textbook (Anterior view of skull), Atlas; forms
superior portion of bony nasal septum
o horizontal plate
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Facial bones
o markings
Nasal (NAYZ-ul)
o no markings
Vomer (VOE-mer)
o no markings
Maxilla (mak-SIL-uh)
o infraorbital foramen; palatine process
Zygomatic (zie-go-MAT-ik)
o temporal process
Palatine (PAL-uh-tine)
BONE not labeled on website
o horizontal plate
Labeled on website; cursor over number, description
box says “part of the palatine bone”
Mandible (MAN-dib-ul)
o mental foramen
Lacrimal (LAK-rim-ul)
o no markings
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ADULT SKULL: SUTURES
o location
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Coronal (kuh-ROE-null)
o Between frontal and parietal bones
Squamous (SKWAY-muss)
o Between parietal and temporal bones
Lambdoid (LAM-doid)
o Between occipital bone and parietal bones
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Sagittal (SAJ-it-ul)
o Between left and right parietal bones
FETAL SKULL: NOT on website; refer to Textbook,
Atlas
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FETAL SKULL BONES–same location as adult
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Frontal (2 bones; left and right usually fuse after birth)
Occipital
Parietal
Temporal
Sphenoid
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FETAL SKULL SUTURES–same location as adult
• Coronal
• Lambdoid
• Sagittal
• Squamous
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FETAL SKULL FONTANELS: FETAL SKULL ONLY
Fontanels are commonly referred to as “soft spots”
• Anterior
• Anterolateral
• Posterior
• Posterolateral
STERNUM - 1 BONE WITH 3 COMPONENTS
• Component
o markings
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Manubrium (man-OO-bree-um)
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o clavicular notch; jugular notch
See Textbook (Skeleton of the Thorax), Atlas
Body
o no markings
Xiphoid process (ZIE-foid process) – You do NOT need to
know this for the lab practical; included for
completeness, so you know the third component
o smallest, inferior component
o can be viewed on articulated full-skeletons only
VERTEBRAE (# IN VERTEBRAL COLUMN)
Abbreviation/Name
o markings
CERVICAL VERTEBRAE (7)
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C1-C7: C1; C2 are highly modified; given special names
• C1: Atlas
o transverse process; transverse foramen; vertebral
foramen [NOTE: The website line points to bone. It
should continue to the large hole (=foramen) in the
middle of the vertebra]
• C2: Axis
o Lamina; spinous process; vertebral foramen;
transverse foramen; transverse process; dens(found
only on the Axis)
• C3-C7
o body; spinous process(usually bifid); transverse
foramen; transverse process; vertebral foramen
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THORACIC VERTEBRAE (12)
• T1-T12
o body; superior articular facet; pedicle; lamina;
spinous process; transverse process; vertebral
foramen
LUMBAR VERTEBRAE (5)
• L1-L5
o body; lamina; pedicle; spinous process; transverse
process; vertebral foramen; superior articular facet;
inferior articular facet
SACRUM (SAYK-rum) (1; 5 fused fetal vertebrae)
• S1-S5; corresponding to fetal vertebrae – See Textbook
o sacral foramina(=plural form of foramen); sacral
canal; median sacral crest; superior articular facet
(NOTE: typo on website reads “articulating”)
COCCYX (KOKS-iks) (1; 4 fused fetal vertebrae)
• Co1-Co4; corresponding to fetal vertebrae – See Textbook
o no markings
APPENDICULAR SKELETON
PECTORAL GIRDLE: BONES; MARKINGS
• Bone
o marking
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Clavicle (KLAV-ik-ul)
o acromial end/extremity; sternal end/extremity)
Scapula (SKAP-you-luh)
o acromion; coracoid process (NOTE: typo in one
frame reads “coranoid”); glenoid fossa/cavity;
lateral (=axillary) border; medial (=vertebral) border;
spine
UPPER EXTREMITY: BONES; MARKINGS
• Bone
o marking
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Humerus (HYOO-mer-us)
o head; anatomical head/neck; surgical neck; greater
tubercle; lesser tubercle; deltoid tuberosity; medial
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epicondyle; lateral epicondyle; capitulum; trochlea;
olecranon fossa
Radius (RAY-dee-us)
o head; neck; radial tuberosity; styloid process
Ulna (ULL-nuh)
o olecranon process; styloid process;
o trochlear notch (NOT on website – SEE: Textbook)
Carpals (KARP-ulls)
o no markings; identify as carpal bone
Metacarpals 1-5 (met-uh-KARP-ulls); numbered
consecutively
o 1 = thumb side; 5 = little finger side; no markings
Phalanges (fuh-LAN-jees); must reference to metacarpal
(e.g. proximal phalange 1)
o Fingers; proximal; medial (middle); distal; except
thumb: proximal and distal only; no markings
PELVIC GIRDLE: BONE; MARKINGS
• Bone
o marking
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Os coxa (OZ KOKS-uh)
o ilium; iliac crest; acetabulum; greater sciatic notch;
lesser sciatic notch; pubis; obturator foramen;
ischium; ischial tuberosity; posterior inferior spine
LOWER EXTREMITY: BONES; MARKINGS
• Bone
o marking
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Femur (FEEM-ur)
o head; neck; greater trochanter; lesser trochanter;
linea aspera; medial epicondyle; lateral epicondyle;
medial condyle; lateral condyle
Tibia (TIB-ee-uh)
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o lateral condyle; medial condyle; tibial tuberosity;
o anterior crest; medial malleolus
Fibula (FIB-you-luh)
o no markings
Patella (puh-TELL-uh)
o no markings
Tarsals (TARS-ulls)
o calcaneus; talus; no markings; identify others as
tarsal bone
Metatarsals 1-5; numbered consecutively
o 1 = big toe side; 5 = little toe side; no markings
Phalanges); must reference to metatarsal (e.g. proximal
phalange 1)
o Toes; proximal; medial (middle); distal; except “big
toe”: proximal and distal only; no markings
PROCEDURE
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Before coming to the first lab:
o Read the table in your text listing bone markings
and know, in general, their definition (e.g.
foramen is a hole in a bone; process is a
structure that projects outward from the bone).
o Consult the glossary in your text for
pronunciation of markings. I have provided
pronunciation guides for bones only. Correct
pronunciation will lead to correct spelling. Don’t
be lazy; look it up!
Follow the link below to: 2651 Laboratory Page
http://www.valdosta.edu/~dodrobin/2651/2651Lab.htm
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On the drop-down menu to the left entitled Lab Study
Aids, CLICK: Bone Review.
o There are two illustrations of a fully articulated
skeleton; one shown in anterior view and the
other in posterior view. Axial skeleton bones are
blue; appendicular skeleton bones are brown.
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There two fully articulated real human skeletons in
the lab. Use these and the illustration mentioned
above to reference: articulations (i.e. what bones
“connect” with each other); orientation of specific
bones to identify left vs. right, and bone markings.
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REMEMBER: Always reference and orient bones in
relation to the ANATOMICAL POSITION.
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Bring the: ATLAS OF THE HUMAN SKELETON with you
to lab if it was bundled with your text when
purchased. The Atlas has excellent photos of real
bones. It is a valuable resource. Also, your text has
very good drawings of bones, adult articulated skulls
with each bone disarticulated, and a lateral view of a
fetal skull.
In many (most) cases, the Atlas, text, and website
provide either a right or left bone to view, but seldom
both. Nonetheless, you must identify bones, and their
markings from either the right or left side of a
skeleton for the lab practical. This situation applies to
appendicular bones, and some skull bones.
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Real-bone and vinyl-cast disarticulated half-skeletons
are also in the lab for you to study. All skulls are fully
articulated with removable mandible and superior
cranial bones to view inside the cranial cavity. These
skulls are used for the practical; therefore, individual
skull bones (with the exception of the mandible) will
not be used. Individual bones, such as: appendicular
bones (exception: wrist/hand; ankle/foot); vertebrae;
sternum components, etc. are used.
• Return to the 2651 lab home page.
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On the drop-down menu to the left, CLICK: Bone
Quizzes.
Read the instructions at the top of the page.
The illustrations are looped and in random order; they
are not grouped into particular categories such as
axial skeleton, appendicular skeleton, cranial bones,
facial bones, etc.
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Illustrations of individual bones and articulated skulls
are provided with numbered labels. Black numbers
and lines refer to names of bones; red numbers and
lines refer to names of markings and sutures.
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Cursor over the number. The name of the bone, bone
markings, or sutures will appear. In many cases, but
not all, a box will appear below the name giving you
more specific information.
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You will be tested on those bones, sutures and
markings that appear on the screens, and what I
have listed in this text. In addition, you must refer
to your Textbook, Atlas, and information given on
these pages for some markings, the fetal skull and
certain other aspects not covered on the website.
CARE, USE, AND STUDY OF BONES
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Take only one bone, skull, or group of articulated
bones (e.g. hand, foot, vertebral column) to your
table at a time.
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Use care in transporting the bone to the lab table. DO
NOT DROP THE BONE. This is especially important for
the real bones.
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NEVER grab or carry real-bone skulls by the eye
sockets.
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Put the bone down gently, and only on the rubberized
mats at your lab table and when returning it to its
original location.
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When pointing at bones or markings, NEVER use a
pen, pencil, or any implement that will leave a
mark; it is difficult or impossible to remove these
from the bones.
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Return the bone to its original location when you are
finished.