HYOID BONE

Hyoid bone

 U-shaped bone
 It is not part of the skull
 Has no direct bony attachment to the skull or any other bones
 Provides an attachment for some tongue muscles, and it is an attachment point for
important neck muscles that elevate the larynx (voice box) during speech or swallowing.

Latin= Os hyoideum

C3

Hyoeides “Shaped like the letter upsilon”

20th letter of the Greek alphabet

(LATERAL VIEW)

Attachment points for:

 Strap muscles of the neck

 Anterior part of the oropharynx
 Muscles of the tongue

(ANTERIOR VIEW)

Keeps the air way open

Vertebral Column

The vertebral column, also known as the spinal column, is the central axis of the skeleton in all

vertebrates.

Functions:

 Protects spinal cord

 Supports weight of the body
 Maintains posture
 Facilitates movement

Five regions:

 cervical
 thoracic
 lumbar spine sections
 sacrum
 coccyx bones

Cervical: 7

Thoracic: 12

Lumbar: 5

Sacral: 5 (fused into one bone, the sacrum)

•

Coccygeal: 4 (fused into one or two bones, the

coccyx)

The adult vertebral column has four major

curvatures.

Kyphosis

 A spinal condition. In people with kyphosis, the spine curves outward more than it should.
As a result, the upper back looks overly rounded. The curvature can make people looked
hunched or slouching. People sometimes call it hunchback or round back.

Lordosis

 Is an exaggerated inward curve of the spine that typically affects the lower back, a condition
called lumbar lordosis. Less often, children develop a pronounced inward curve of the neck,
cervical lordosis. Lordosis can affect people of all ages.

Scoliosis

 Is a sideways curvature of the spine that most often is diagnosed in adolescents. While
scoliosis can occur in people with conditions such as cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy,
the cause of most childhood scoliosis is unknown. Most cases of scoliosis are mild, but some
curves worsen as children grow.

General plan of the vertebrae

Structure of a Vertebrae

All vertebrae share a basic common structure. They each consist of an anterior vertebral body,

and a posterior vertebral arch.

Vertebral Body

 forms the anterior part of each vertebrae. It is the weight-bearing component, and
vertebrae in the lower portion of the column have larger bodies than those in the upper
portion (to better support the increased weight).
  The superior and inferior aspects of the vertebral body are lined with hyaline cartilage.
Adjacent vertebral bodies are separated by a fibro cartilaginous intervertebral disc.

Vertebral Arch

The vertebral arch forms the lateral and posterior aspect of each vertebrae.

 In combination with the vertebral body, the vertebral arch forms an enclosed hole – the
vertebral foramen. The foramina of all the vertebrae line up to form the vertebral canal,
which encloses the spinal cord.

Have several bony prominences, which act as attachment sites for muscles and ligaments: Spinous
processes

 ach vertebra has a single spinous process, centered posteriorly at the point of the arch.

Transverse processes

 each vertebra has two transverse processes, which extend laterally and posteriorly from the
vertebral body. In the thoracic vertebrae, the transverse processes articulate with the ribs.

Pedicles

 connect the vertebral body to the transverse processes.

Lamina

 connect the transverse and spinous processes.

Articular processes

 form joints between one vertebra and its superior and inferior counterparts. The articular
processes are located at the intersection of the laminae and pedicles.

REGIONAL DIFFERENCES IN VERTEBRAE

There are five (5) regions of Vertebrae:

 Cervical vertebrae
 Thoracic vertebrae
 Lumbar vertebrae
 Sacral
 Coccyx
Cervical vertebrae (C1-C7)

 It is the upper section of the vertebral

 column.
 Give the neck its structure.
 It supports the skull.
 Protects the spinal cord.
 Allows certain movement of the head.

Characteristics of cervical vertebrae.

 Have small bodies except for the atlas,

 which has no body.
 Relatively delicate.
 Vertebral foramen is larger compared to
 other vertebrae.
 Each transverse process of cervical
 vertebrae have transverse foramen, which
 is uniquely found in cervical vertebrae
 only.
 Have a bifid spinous process.

The first and second cervical vertebrae quite differ in structure than the rest of cervical vertebrae.

Atlas (C1)- The first cervical vertebrae that holds up the head. Also called “atlas”, as in Atlas in classical
mythology held up the world. The atlas has no body and lacks a spinous process. The movement
between the atlas and occipital bone is responsible for a “yes” motion of the head.
Axis (C2)- Adjacent and inferior to the first cervical vertebrae. Also called “axis” because of the amount
of rotation that occurs at this vertebra. The rotation of the head happens around the odontoid process
or den, which protrudes the superiorly from the axis.

Thoracic vertebrae (T1-T12)

 It is the middle section of the vertebral column.

 Provides support to the back.
 Protects the spinal cord.

Characteristics of the thoracic vertebrae

 The spinous process of thoracic vertebrae is long, thin, and are directed inferiorly.
 Thoracic vertebrae have extra articular facets that articulates with the ribs.
 The body of thoracic vertebrae is large compared to the body of cervical
Lumbar vertebrae (L1-L5)

 Found between the thoracic and sacral vertebrae.

 Supports the weight of the upper body.
 Provides flexibility and movement of the trunk.

Characteristics of the lumbar vertebrae

 The transverse and spinous processes are large, thick, heavy, rectangular in shape.
 The superior articular facet of the lumbar vertebrae is face medially.
 The inferior articular facet of the lumbar vertebrae is face laterally.

Sacral

The sacral vertebrae are fused into a single bone known as sacrum. The spinous process of the first four
sacral vertebrae forms the median sacral chest. The fifth spinous process however, does not form,
leaving a sacral hiatus at the inferior end of the sacrum. The anterior edge of the body of the first sacral
vertebra bulges to form the sacral promontory.
Coccyx

The coccyx or tailbone is the inferior part of the vertebral column. It consists of usually four more or less
fused vertebrae. Coccyx do not have the typical structure of vertebrae. The coccyx is comprised of
extremely reduce vertebral bodies, without the foramina or processes, usually fused into a single bone.

RIB CAGE

The rib cage protects the vital organ within the thorax and prevents the collapse of the thorax during
respiration. It consists of:

 Thoracic vertebrae
 Ribs with their associated cartilages
 Sternum
 Clavicle which is located between the ribcage (sternum) and the shoulder blade (scapula). It is
the bone that connects the arm to the body, and also clavicle lies above several important
nerves and blood vessels.
 True Ribs, true ribs are the ribs that directly articulate with the sternum with their costal
cartilages.
 Sternal angle also called as (angle of Louis) is an important clinical landmark for identifying
many other anatomical points: It marks the point at which the costal cartilages of the second rib
articulate with the sternum.
 Costal cartilage are bars of hyaline cartilage which serve to prolong the ribs forward and
contribute very materially to the elasticity of the walls of the thorax.
 False ribs are the ribs that indirectly articulate with the sternum, as their costal cartilages
connect with the seventh costal cartilage.
 The last two pairs of ribs at the very bottom of the rib cage do not attach to the sternum at all is
called Floating Ribs.
 The seventh cervical vertebra, also called the vertebra prominens, is commonly considered a
unique vertebra and has the most prominent spinous process. (to support the skull, enabling
head movements back and forth, and from side to side, as well as protecting the spinal cord.)
 First thoracic vertebra the T1 vertebra is the first (uppermost) of the twelve (12) thoracic
vertebrae that make up the central and largest section of the spinal column between the lumbar
vertebrae below and the cervical vertebrae above.
 The jugular notch (Incisura jugularis) of the petrous part of the temporal bone, contributes to
form the jugular foramen with the corresponding notch carved in the occipital bone.
 Sternum it is a partially T-shaped vertical bone that forms the anterior portion of the chest wall
centrally.
 Manubrium the most massive, thickest, and squarest of three main sternal elements while
 Body is located at the middle part of the sternum and is also the longest,
 Xiphoid process the most distal edge of the sternum or the breastbone.
Ribs and Costal Cartilages

The 12 pairs of ribs can be divided into true ribs and false ribs. The true ribs, ribs 1–7, attach directly to
the sternum by means of costal cartilages. The false ribs, ribs 8–12, do not attach directly to the
sternum. Ribs 8–10 attach to the sternum by a common cartilage; ribs 11 and 12 do not attach at all to
the sternum and are called floating ribs.

Sternum

The sternum (ster′nŭm), or breastbone is divided into three parts: the manubrium (mă-nū′brē-ŭm;
handle), the body, and the xiphoid (zif′oyd, zī′foyd; sword) process.

The sternum resembles a sword, with the manubrium forming the handle, the body forming the blade,
and the xiphoid process forming the tip.
Jugular notch

 At the superior end of the sternum, a depression called the jugular notch is located between the
ends of the clavicles where they articulate with the sternum.

Sternal Angle

 The sternal angle, can be felt at the junction of the manubrium and the body of the sternum.
This junction is an important landmark because it identifies the location of the second rib. This
identification allows the ribs to be counted; for example, it can help a health professional locate
the apex of the heart, which is between the fifth and sixth ribs.
Xiphoid process

 The xiphoid process is another important landmark of the sternum. During cardiopulmonary
resuscitation (CPR), it is very important to place the hands over the body of the sternum rather
than over the xiphoid process. Pressure applied to the xiphoid process can drive it into an
underlying abdominal organ, such as the liver, causing internal bleeding.

EFFECTS OF AGING ON SKELETAL SYSTEM AND JOINTS

Brief Summary of Skeletal System and Joints

 The skeletal system consists of bones, cartilages, tendons and ligaments. Its main functions are
to support the body, protect the internal organs, allows movement and homeostasis.
 Joints are part of the body where two or more bones connect and allows movement.

Effects of aging on skeletal system and joints

 Changes in the quality and quantity of bone matrix

 Changes in joints

Quality of bone matrix

 The bone matrix in an older bone is more brittle than in a younger one due to decreased
collagen production that results to more minerals and less collagen fibers.

Quantity of bone matrix

 Decrease in amount of bone matrix due to less matrix formation and more matrix breakdown
done by osteoblasts and osteoclasts.
 men and women experience bone matrix loss of 0.3-0.5% a year after the age of
 women experience increases in bone matrix loss of 3-5% yearly after menopause for about 5-7
years.

Osteoporosis

 a condition of losing bone matrix. It makes the bones so porous and weakened that they
become deformed and prone to fracture.
Significant changes in bone matrix may results to bone fractures, deformity, loss of height, pain and
stiffness.

Changes in joints

 Articular cartilages start to wear down.

 Ligaments and tendons surrounding the joints shorten.
 Pain, less flexibility and range of motion.

Osteoarthritis

 A type of arthritis that is prone to older people. One of many conditions related to joints. It is a
degeneration of joints due to the loss of cartilages that results to pain and movement
complications.

Prevention

 Combination of increasing physical activity and dietary calcium and vitamin D supplements.
 Intensive exercise.