Name: __________________________
Date: ____________
Block: ________
A & P: Skeletal System
Skull, Vertebrae, and Thoracic Cavity Investigation
THE SKULL (pages 24-25)
1. List all of the cranial and facial bones that occur in pairs:
2. List all of the cranial and facial bones that occur singly:
3. List all sutures found on the skull:
4. Why is the nose not part of the skull diagram?
5. Find the jugular foramen. What is its function?
6. What is an alternative name for the sella turcica?
7. What two bones contribute to the nasal septum?
8. What two bones make up the “hard palate”?
9. What is the purpose of the cribriform plate?
10. Why are the occipital condyles present?
Compare/Contrast:
 Mastoid process/Styloid process
 Jugular foramen/Carotid canal
 Sella turcica/Temporal bone
 Coronal suture/Sagittal suture
 Superior orbital fissure/Inferior orbital fissure
 Glabella/Supraorbital foramen
 Zygomatic process of temporal bone/Temporal process of zygomatic bone
 Mental foramen/Ramus
 Sphenoid bone/Ethmoid bone/Lacrimal
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Name: __________________________
Date: ____________
Block: ________
VERTEBRAL COLUMN (pages 27-28)
1. How many vertebrae are there in the spinal column?
a. How many cervical vertebrae?
Function?
b. How many thoracic vertebrae?
Function?
c. How many lumbar vertebrae?
Function?
d. How many sacral vertebrae?
Function?
e. How many coccygeal vertebrae?
Function?
2. What can cause the spine to curve abnormally?
3. Compare/Contrast Scoliosis, kyphosis, and lordosis.
4. What part of the vertebrae allows passage of the spinal cord?
5. What is the function of a vertebral foramen?
6. Describe the make-up of the intervetebral disc:
7. Why do the elderly often suffer from loss of height?
8. Explain how the spinal cord and intervertebral discs change when you bend forward and when you
bend/stretch backwards.
9. Name the parts of a typical thoracic vertebra:
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Name: __________________________
Date: ____________
Block: ________
10. Name the part of a typical cervical vertebra:
11. Explain how nodding and turning the head takes place.
12. What areas of the neck are most susceptible to injury? Why?
13. Why are the lumbar vertebrae so thick?
14. Where does the spinal cord end?
15. Why are the L4, L5, and S1 discs at risk for injury?
16. Make a simple sketch to show the differences between the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar
vertebrae.
THE BONY THORAX (page 30)
1. What is found in the intervetebral space?
2. How many ribs are there?
True?
False?
Floating?
3. Sketch a diagram of the sternum and label its parts.
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Name: __________________________
Date: ____________
Block: ________
4. Ribs 1, 10, 11, and 12 are unusual because they only join with ____________ vertebra instead
of ____________.
5. Would the costal groove or the tubercle of the rib be more helpful in deciding which way the
rib fits in the body? Why? Explain.
http://www.spine-health.com/video/spine-anatomy-interactive-video
http://www.getbodysmart.com/ap/skeletalsystem/skeleton/menu/menu.html
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