Elements of Osteology
DR .Emmanuel
M.D, MSc, PGDGH
Session Objectives
Objectives is to able to
– Use the anatomical terminology in osteology
– State major bony structures
– Name and classify the bones of the body
– Link bone structure and clinical conditions
– References:
Frank Netter Atlas on Osteology
Common bone conditions
Osteoporosis
Fractures
Dislocations/ subluxation
Cancer: Ostesarcoma,chondrosarcomas
Founders of
Anatomy
Hippocrates
Hippocrates----BC 460~377)
Father of Medicine
Mother of Nursing?...FN
Other professions: Find
out
Galen
Galen--------AD
130~200
Andreas Vesalius
Vesalius------(1514~1564)
Founder of modern Anatomy
William
Harvey
Harvey------(1578~1657)
Described correctly the CVS
Osteology
Osteology is the anatomical study of
bones
Conventionally we study the dry bones in
the anatomy class
This sets the understanding of bones in
clinical settings e.g in Radiology,
Orthopedics, Traumatolgy, Surgery etc
Functions of the bone
Support and protection
The skeleton (bones, ligaments and tendons)
supports and protects soft tissues
Muscle attachment and locomotion
Production of blood cells
Mineral reservoir
Terms used in osteology
Bone surface have structures e.g.:
Elevations
Facets
Head and Condyle
Depressions
Foramen
Elevations
Linear elevations
– Lines/ridges e.g nuchal line, supracondylar
ridges
– Crest is a prominent line/ridge
• Rounded elevations
-Tubercle- small rounded elevation
-Protuberance- knob-like elevation
-Tuberosity- big rough elevation
-Trochanter- rough elevation of femur
-Malleolus- harmer like elevation
• Sharp elevation
-Spinous process
-Clinoid process
Facet: Small, smooth, flat articular
surface
Head and Condyle: Rounded articular
surface normally covered by cartilage e.g
head of humerus, condyles of femur
Epicondyle--prominent process just
above a condyle
Depressions
Sulcus: Shallow and long depression on the
bone surface.
Fossa: Deep depressions on the bone surface
Notch or Incisura: Semicircular depressions
Foramen-Openings or holes
Canal- A long foramen
Meatus- canal that enter the bone but does not go
through it
Types of bones
Classification
Long bones- humerus, radius, ulna, metacarpals,
femur, tibia, fibula, metatarsals, phalanges
Short bones- carpals and tarsal
Flat bone- cranial bones, scapula, sternum, ribs
and innominate
Irregular bones- vertebrae, temporal, sphenoid,
ethmoid, zygomatic, maxilla, mandible, palatine
and inferior nasal concha
Sesamoid bone- bones embedded in a tendon e.g.
patella
Pneumatic bones- irregular bones with air filled
cavities/ sinuses e.g. maxilla, sphenoid, ethmoid,
frontal and mastoid part of the temporal
Part of a long bone
Diaphysis- has a thick outer compact
bone
Metaphysis- a thin part of diaphysis
adjoning epiphysis
Epiphysis- proximal and distal rounded
part
Long bones (found in
limbs):
– Diaphysis or shaft ,
which is hollow (called
medullary cavity ), filled with
bone marrow
– Two ends－epiphysis
articular surface, metaphysis,
epiphysial cartilage , and
epiphysial line
Short bones: cuboidal in
shape, e.g. carpal bones
Flat bones: thin
Irregular bones:
have any irregular or
mixed shape, e.g.
vertebrae, pneumatic
bones
Sesamoid bones:
develop within tendon
e.g patella
General structures of bone
Bone substance
– compact bone
– spongy bone
trabeculae
In the flat bones of the skull, the
layers of compact bone are
called the outer plate and inner
plate while the layer of spongy
bone is called the diploë
Periosteum :
– Outer or fibrous layer
– Inner layer is vascular and
provides the underlying bone
with nutrition. It also contains
osteoblasts
Endosteum is a single-cellular
osteogenic layer lining the inner
surface of bone.
Bone marrow
– Red marrow haematopoietic
center
– Yellow marrow: fatty
Chemical composition and
physical properties
Organic material：
Inorganic salts
Children
Adult
Old
Organic material
1
3
1
Inorganic salts
1
7
4
The Bones of Limbs
Bones of upper limbs
Composition:
Should girdle: clavicle，
scapula
Bones of free upper limb
– Humerus in arm
– Radius and ulna in forearm
– Carpal bones, metacarpals
and phalanges in hand
Clavicle
“S” shaped, medial 2/3
convex forward and lateral
1/3 convex backward
Sternal end medially and
acromial end laterally
Scapula
Three borders
– Superior: coracoid process ,
scapular notch
– Lateral (axillary) border
– Medial (vertebral) border
Three angles
– Superior: opposite to the 2nd rib
– Inferior: opposite to the 7th rib or 7th intercostals
space
– Lateral: glenoid cavity,
supra- and infraglenoid tubercles
Two surfaces
– Anterior surface concave:
subscapular fossa
– Posterior surface: supra- and infraspinous
fossae, spine of scapula , acromion
Humerus
Proximal end: head of humerus,
anatomical neck, greater and
lesser tubercles, crests of greater
and lesser tubercle,
intertubercular groove, surgical
neck
Shaft: deltoid tuberosity on lateral
surface, and a groove for radial
nerve on posterior surface
Distal end: lateral and medial
epicondyles, capitulum , trochlear,
coronoid fossa and radial fossa
(anteriorly) and olecranon fossa
(posteriorly), and sulcus for ulnar
nerve
Radius
Upper end: head of radius,
neck of radius, radial
tuberosity, and articular
circumference
Shaft：interosseous border
Lower end: styloid process
laterally, ulnar notch medially,
and carpal articular surface
inferiorly
Fracture of the distal end pf the
radius
Radius
Proximal end:
olecranon
coronoid process
trochlear notch
radial notch
ulnar tubersity
Distal end
styloid process
head of Radius
Carpal bones
Proximal row ― (lateral to medial)
scaphoid, lunate, triquetral and
pisiform
Distal row ― (lateral to medial)
trapezium大, trapezoid, capitate and
hamate
Metacarpal bones
Numbered one to five from thumb to
little finger
Structure of each―base (proximally),
shaft, and head (distally)
Phalanges of fingers
Consist of 14 ―two for first digit
(thumb) and three for each of other
four digits
Structure of each ―base (proximally),
shaft, and trochlea of phalanx
(distally), tuberosity of distal phalanx