Lesson 3:

Learning Outcomes

When you have finished studying this lesson, you will be able to:
1. Describe how the skeleton is organized into axial and appendicular
divisions.
2. Name the cranial and facial bones and indicate whether they are paired
or single.
3. Describe the following cranial bones and their main features.
4. Identify the location and surface features of the following bones: nasal,
lacrimal, palatine, inferior nasal conchae, vomer, maxillae, zygomatic,
and mandible.
5. Describe the following special features of the skull.
6. Identify the regions and normal curves of the vertebral column, describing
its structural and functional features.
7. Identify the locations and surface features of the cervical, thoracic,
lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal vertebrae.
8. Identify the bones of the thorax, including sternum and ribs, and their
functions.

Without bones, you could not survive. You would be unable to

perform movements such as walking or grasping, and the slightest

blow to your head or chest could damage your brain or heart.

Because the skeletal system forms the framework of the body, a

familiarity with the names, shapes, and positions of individual bones

will help you locate and name many other anatomical features. For

example, the radial artery, the site where the pulse is usually taken,

is named for its closeness to the radius, the lateral bone of the

forearm. The ulnar nerve is named for its proximity to the ulna, the

medial bone of the forearm. The frontal lobe of the brain lies deep

to the frontal (forehead) bone.

 Movements such as throwing a ball, biking, and walking require interactions

between bones and muscles. To understand how muscles produce different movements,

from high fives to three-point shots, you will need to learn where the muscles attach

on individual bones and what types of joints are involved. Together, the bones, muscles,

and joints form an integrated system called the musculoskeletal system.

The human skeleton consists of 206 named bones. Bones of the skeleton are

grouped into two principal divisions:

Axial skeleton
• Consists of the bones that lie around the longitudinal axis of the
human body
• Skull bones, auditory ossicles (ear bones), hyoid bone, ribs, sternum
(breastbone), and bones of the vertebral column

Appendicular skeleton
• Consists of the bones of the upper and lower limbs (extremities),
plus the bones forming the girdles that connect the limbs to the
axial skeleton
bony framework of the head

Consists of 22 bones

protects the brain

stabilize the positions of the brain, blood vessels,

Iymphatic vessels, and nerves through the
attachment of their inner surfaces to meninges
(membranes)

outer surfaces of cranial bones provide large

areas of attachment for muscles that move
various parts of the head

provide attachment for some muscles that

produce facial expression such as the frown of
concentration you wear when studying this book
• Bones of the skull are grouped into two categories:

o Cranial bones – Eight (8) cranial bones form the cranial cavity

➢ Frontal bone, two parietal bones, two temporal bones, the occipital bone,

the sphenoid bone, ethmoid bone

o Facial bones – Fourteen (14) facial bones form the face

➢ Two nasal bones, two maxillae, two zygomatic bones, the mandible, two

lacrimal bones, two palatine bones, two inferior nasal conchae, vomer
• Vomer
o Forms the inferior portion of the nasal septum
• Mandible
o Lower jawbone
o The largest, strongest facial bone
o The only movable skull bone
• Nasal Septum
o Divides the interior of the nasal cavity into right and left sides
o “Broken nose,” in most cases, refers to septal damage rather than the nasal bones
themselves
• Orbits
o Eye socket
• Foramina
o Openings for blood vessels, nerves, or ligaments of the skull
• Sutures

o an immovable joint that holds most skull bones together

• Paranasal Sinuses

o Cavities within cranial and facial bones near the nasal cavity

o Secretions produced by the mucous membranes which line the sinuses, drain into the

nasal cavity

o Serve as resonating chambers that intensify and prolong sounds

• Fontanels

o Areas of unossified tissue

o At birth, unossified tissue spaces, commonly called “soft spots” link the cranial bones

o Eventually, they are replaced with bone to become sutures

o Provide flexibility to the fetal skull, allowing the skull to change shape as it passes

through the birth canal

• Does not articulate with any other

bone

• Supports the tongue, providing

attachment sites for some tongue

muscles and for muscles of the

neck and pharynx

• The hyoid bone also helps to keep

the larynx (voice box) open at all

times.
Also called the spine, backbone, or spinal column

Functions to:

•Protect the spinal cord

•Support the head
•Serve as a point of attachment for the ribs, pelvic girdle, and muscles

The vertebral column is curved to varying degrees in

different locations
•Curves increase the column strength
•Help maintain balance in the upright position
•Absorb shocks during walking, and help protect the vertebrae from fracture
Various conditions may exaggerate the normal curves of the
vertebral column
•Kyphosis -increase in the thoracic curve of the vertebral column that produces a
“hunchback” look
•Lordosis -sometimes called hollow back, is an increase in the lumbar curve of the
vertebral column; may result from increased weight of the abdomen as in pregnancy or
extreme obesity, poor posture, rickets, osteoporosis, or tuberculosis of the spine
•Scoliosis - most common of the abnormal curves, is a lateral bending of the vertebral
column

usually in the thoracic region

Composed of a series of bones called vertebrae (Adult=26)

•7 cervical are in the neck region

•12 thoracic are posterior to the thoracic cavity
•5 lumbar support the lower back
•1 sacrum consists of five fused sacral vertebrae
•1 coccyx consists of four fused coccygeal vertebrae
Found between the bodies of adjacent vertebrae

Functions to:

• Form strong joints

• Permit various movements of the vertebral column
• Absorb vertical shock

Vertebrae typically consist of:

• A Body (weight bearing)

• A vertebral arch (surrounds the spinal cord)
• Several processes (points of attachment for muscles)
Cervical Region
•Cervical vertebrae (C1–C7)
•The atlas (C1) is the first cervical vertebra
•The axis (C2) is the second cervical vertebra

Thoracic Region
•Thoracic vertebrae (T1–T12)
•Articulate with the ribs
Lumbar Region
•Lumbar vertebrae (L1–L5)
•Provide for the attachment of the large back muscles
Sacrum
•The sacrum is a triangular bone formed by the union of five sacral vertebrae (S1–S5)
•Serves as a strong foundation for the pelvic girdle
Coccyx
•The coccyx, like the sacrum, is triangular in shape
•It is formed by the fusion of usually four coccygeal vertebrae
Sternum
• “Breastbone” located in the center of the thoracic wall
• Consists of the manubrium, body, xiphoid process
Ribs
• Twelve pairs of ribs give structural support to the sides
of the thoracic cavity
Costal cartilages
• Costal cartilages contribute to the elasticity of the
thoracic cage
Read the following instructions carefully before answering:

• Answer the following questions briefly. The maximum number of sentences is 15 only.
• Use your Edmodo account in answering and submitting your answers.
• You can upload MS Word file and PDF format for your answers or type your answers directly
in Edmodo.
• Late submission will not be entertained. Please submit ahead of time.
• Submitted answers will be checked for its originality to avoid plagiarism.
• Students should upload 1 file only. Follow the file name format:
Last Name_First Name_Module_Number
Example: PRE_ELENA_Module 3 Activity

1. Describe how the skeleton is organized into axial and appendicular divisions.
2. Using a table, name the cranial and facial bones and indicate whether they
are paired or single.
3. Describe the following cranial bones and their main features: frontal,
parietal, temporal, occipital, sphenoid, and ethmoid.
4. Identify the location and surface features of the following bones: nasal,
lacrimal, palatine, inferior nasal conchae, vomer, maxillae, zygomatic, and
mandible.
5. Enumerate and describe the following special features of the skull.
6. Identify the regions and normal curves of the vertebral column, describing
its structural and functional features.
7. Identify the locations and surface features of the cervical, thoracic, lumbar,
sacral, and coccygeal vertebrae.
8. Identify the bones of the thorax, including sternum and ribs, and their functions.

Good job! After answering this activity, you may now

proceed with lesson 4. Enjoy and have fun reading.