Human Anatomy and Physiology Lecture Notes

SKELETAL SYSTEM
Terms for self - reading :

Orthopaedics TMJ syndrome Bursitis

Orthodontics Sinusitis Sprain/ strain
Pagets Runner’s knee Flatfoot
Dwarfism Bone grafting Subluxation
Acromegaly Clubfoot Whiplash injury
Black eye Arthroscopy Laminectomy
Cleft lip Fractures Spina bifida
Dislocation Bone scan

SKELETAL PLAN – 2 DIVISION

1. AXIAL – 80 BONES
Skull (28 bones )

Cranium (8 Frontal (1) –

bones)
Parietal (2) -

Temporal (2) -

Occipital (1) -

Sphenoid (1) -

Ethmoid (1) -

Face (14 Nasal (2) -

bones)
Maxillary (2) -

Zygomatic/ malar (2) -

Mandible (1) -

Lacrimal (2) -

Palatine (2) -

Inferior nasal conchae/ turbinates (2) -

Vomer (1) -

Ear bones (6 Malleus (hammer) (2)

bones ) Incus (anvil) (2)
Stapes (stirrup) (2)
Hyoid bone (1)
Spinal Cervical vertebrae (7)
column (26 Thoracic vertebrae (12)
bones) Lumbar vertebrae (5)
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Human Anatomy and Physiology Lecture Notes
Sacrum (1)
Coccyx (1)
Sternum Sternum/ breast bone (1) (PARTS: MANIUBRIUM, BODY OR GLADIOLUS, XIPHOID
and ribs (25) PROCESS)
True ribs (14)
False ribs (10)

APPENDICULAR SKELETON – 126 BONES

Pectoral Girdle / Clavicle/ collar bone (2)
shoulder girdle (4) Scapula/ shoulder blade (2)
Upper limbs (60) Humerus (2)
Ulna (2)
Radius (2)
Carpals (16)
Metacarpals (10)
Phalanges (28)
Pelvic (hip) girdle (2) Hip ,pelvic, coxal (2)
Lower limbs (60) Femur (2)
Fibula (2)
Tibia (2)
Patella (2)
Tarsals (14)
Metatarsals (10)
Phalanges (28)
(have a copy and review .TABLE. PRINCIPAL FORAMINA)

SUTURES – immovable joint

1. CORONAL – unites frontal and parietal bones
2. SAGITTAL – unites 2 parietal bones on superior midline
3. LAMBDOID – unite 2 parietal and occipital bone
4. SQUAMOUS – unite the parietal and temporal bones on the lateral

SINUSES – paranasal sinuses; mucous membrane lined spaces

 Frontal – lie between the inner and outer tables of the frontal bone over the root of the nose
 Ethmoid – situated in the labyrinths of the ethmoid bone
 Maxillary – two large cavities, one in each upper jaw
 Sphenoid – occupy the body of the sphenoid bone

FETAL SKULL – presence of fontanels

- Membrane filled spaces between the cranial bones
- Allows compression of the skull during birth
- Commonly called soft spots
- Replaced by intramembranous ossifications and become sutures

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Human Anatomy and Physiology Lecture Notes
1. anterior (frontal) – at the intersection of the sagittal and coronal sutures (juncture of the
parietal and frontal bones)
- diamond shape ; largest of the fontanels; usually closes 18 – 24 months after birth
2. posterior (occipital) – at the intersection of the sagittal and lambdoid sutures (juncture of the parietal
and occipital bones)
- triangular shape ; usually closes 2 months
3. anterolateral (sphenoid) – at the juncture of frontal, parietal, temporal, and sphenoid bone
- closes 3 months after birth
4. mastoid (posterolateral) – at the juncture of the parietal, occipital, and temporal bones
- begin to close 1 -2 months after birth and completely closed at 12 months.

FUNCTIONS OF FONTANELS:
- Provide flexibility to fetal bones
- Allow the skull to change in shape as it passes through the birth canal and rapid growth of brain
during infancy

VERTEBRAL COLUMN
- 2/5 of total body weight
- 71 cm (28 inches) in male, 61 cm (24 inches) in female
- Strong flexible rod that can move forward, backward, sideways and rotates
- Encloses and protect the spinal cord ; supports the head , serves as a point of attachment for the
ribs, pelvic girdle and muscles of the back
- Early development : 33 vertebrae then fuse to yield 26 vertebrae:
 5 cervical
 12 thoracic
 5 lumbar
 1 sacrum ( fused 5 sacral vertebrae )
 1 coccyx ( fused 4 coccygeal vertebrae )

NORMAL CURVES OF THE VERTEBRAE:

PRIMARY CURVES
1. THORACIC AND SACRAL – concave; after the child stands

SECONDARY CURVES
2. CERVICAL AND LUMBAR – convex; cervical : after the child attempts to hold the head erect (2 – 4
months ), lumbar : from balancing efforts in learning to walk (10 – 18 months )
* the curve of the vertebral column increases its strength, help maintain balance in an upright position,
absorb shock during walking and help protect the vertebrae from fracture

VERTEBRAE – PARTS OF A TYPICAL VERTEBRAE

1. BODY – main part, flat, round mass located anteriorly, supporting weight bearing part of the vertebra
2. PEDICLES – short projections extending posteriorly from the body
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Human Anatomy and Physiology Lecture Notes
3. LAMINA – posterior part of the vertebra to which pedicles join and from which processes
project
4. VERTEBRAL ARCH / NEURAL ARCH – formed by pedicles and lamina, protects the spinal cord
posteriorly
5. SPINOUS PROCESS – sharp process projecting inferiorly from laminae in the midline
6. TRANSVERSE PROCESSES – right and left lateral projections from laminae
7. SUPERIOR ARTICULATING PROCESSES – project upward from laminae; have smooth superior articular
facets
8. INFERIOR ARTICULATING PROCESSES – project downward from laminae
9. SPINAL FORAMEN – hole in the center of the vertebra formed by union of the body, pedicles, and
laminae
10. INTERVERTEBRAL FORAMINA – opening between the vertebrae through which the spinal nerves
emerge

REGIONS OF THE VERTEBRAE :

1. CERVICAL REGION
- Short bifurcated process from C2 – C6
- the bodies of these vertebra are small , whereas spinal foramina are large and triangular

C1 – ATLAS
- Lacks a body and spinous process
- Ringlike vertebra supporting the skull by forming a joint with the occipital condyles
- Supports the head, allows the movement of the head signifying ‘YES’

C2 – AXIS (EPISTROPHEUS)
- Has a body known as dens or odontoid (toothlike) process
- Makes a pivot and moves the head signifying ‘NO’
- Trauma to the dens – WHIPLASH

C3 – C6 – typical vertebrae
C7 – vertebral prominence: single large spinous process at the base of the skull.

2. THRORACIC – T1 – T2
- larger and stronger
- Longer spinous process on T1 and T2 directed inferiorly
- T11 – T12: shorter, broader spinous process directed posteriorly

3. LUMBAR – L1 – L5
- longest and strongest; processes are short, thick and broad

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Human Anatomy and Physiology Lecture Notes
4. SACRUM
- bone that develops as a set of 5 vertebrae that fuse to form one large bone inferior to L5

5. COCCYX ( TAILBONE )
- inferior to the sacrum ; made up of fused 4 vertebrae

ABNORMAL SPINE CURVATURES

 Kyphosis – an exaggerated thoracic curve that resulted in a hunched back with rounded
shoulders
 Scoliosis – vertebral column bending laterally
 Lordosis – exaggerated lumbar curve that appears as a swayback with the abdomen protruding
anteriorly.

(DRAW AND LABEL IN YOUR NOTEBOOK THE SUPERIOR VIEW OF ATLAS, SUPERIOR VIEW OF A TYPICAL
CERVICAL VERTEBRA, AND THE SUPERIOR AND LATERAL VIEW AXIS)

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