Organization of the Skeleton

Axial Skeleton Appendicular Skeleton

Axial Skeleton is the “blue” Appendicular Skeleton is the “purple”

 The Appendicular
Skeleton
The appendicular skeleton is
composed of the:
Upper extremities
Pectoral girdle
Pelvic girdle
Lower extremities
 The Pectoral Girdle
Also called the “shoulder girdle,” the pectoral girdle contains
four (4) bones.
It functions to anchor and support the upper extremities and
serves as an important attachment site for a great number of
muscles that help to move the arm. The bones of the pectoral
girdle are as follows:
Bones of the Pectoral Girdle
The Clavicles (2)
Also known as the
“collarbones,”
these act as
anterior braces or
struts, helping to
prevent
dislocations of the
shoulder.
 Bones of the Pectoral Girdle
The Scapula
(2)

Also known as
the “shoulder
blades,” these
contain the
shallow sockets
into which the
head of the humerus
fits.
The Upper Extremities

The upper extremities or upper

appendages, and commonly, but
inappropriately, called the
“arms,” contain a total of sixty
(60) bones from regions
commonly called the “upper
arm,” “forearm,” “wrist,” and
“hand.” The bones of the upper
extremities listed proximally to
distally are as follows:
Bones of the Upper
Extremities

Humerus
Bones of the Upper
Extremities

Radius
Bones of the Upper
Extremities

Ulna
 Reminder:
A Comparison of the Radius to the Ulna

Radius
(on thumb side
)

“Thumb” Ulna
(on pinkie side
)

“Pinkie”

always “palm up,” palmar

supinated
or perspective
 Bones of the Upper
Extremities
Proximal row of carpals –
supinated (palmar) view;
laterally to medially; or from
3 2 below metacarpal 1 to
4
metacarpal 5
5
1

1 = Scaphoid
8 7 6 5
2 = Lunate
4
3
2 1
3 = Triangular
4 = Pisiform
 Bones of the Upper
Extremities
Distal row of carpals –
supinated (palmar) view;
laterally to medially; or from
3

4
2
below metacarpal 1 to
metacarpal 5
5
1
5 = Trapezium
8 7 6 5 6 = Trapezoid
4
3
2 1 7 = Capitate
8 = Hamate
 Bones of the Upper
Extremities

2 3
1 4
5
Metacarpals
 Reminder:Naming the Metacarpals:

____________
(1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , or 5 ) metacarpal
st nd rd th th

of the_________ ) hand.
(Left or Right

**Note: Counting for

the metacarpalsst 1
through th5 goes from
2 “thumb” to “pinkie.”
3
4
1 5
Metacarpals
 D
D
D
M M
M D

P P M
P
D
P

P
2
3
4
1 5
Bones of the Upper Extremities
 D Reminder:
D
D
M M Distal
M D
Middle
P P M
P Phalanges
D
Proximal
P
Naming the Phalanges:
P
2 Phalanx OF
3 (proximal, middle, or distal ) DIGITS OF
4
1 5 ___________
(1 st
, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, or 5th) HANDS

_________
(Left or Right)
 Summary of Upper Extremities
1. Humerus (2) – the “upper 4. Metacarpals (10) – the
arm” “palm” and/or the “back of
the hand”
2. Radius and Ulna (4) – the
“forearm” 5. Phalanges (28) – (singular =
phalanx) the “fingers”
3. Carpals (16) – the ‘wrist”
a. lunate
b. hamate
c. capitate
d. triangular
e. trapezium g. scaphoid
 f. pisiform h. trapazoid
The Pelvic Girdle
The pelvic girdle,
also called the
“pelvis,”
functions to
support and
protect the soft,
vital organs of the
abdominal cavity,
provide a stable
support for the
trunk of the body,
and to provide
attachments for
the lower
extremities (the
legs). The bones of
the pelvic girdle
are as follows:
 Bones of the Pelvic Girdle
The Coxal Bones or Ossa Coxae

Also commonly calledhipbone

the “ ,” the coxal
bones each consist of sthree parts which become fused
in late adolescence to
form a single bones. They
articulate posteriorly with
the sacrum and anteriorly to
each other at the symphysis
pubis joint.
 Bones of the Pelvic Girdle
The three subparts of the
coxal bone which fuse in
late adolescence are as
follow:

a. The Ilium
b. The Ischium
c. The Pubis
 Bones of the Pelvic Girdle
The Sacrum

Also a part of the

vertebral column, it
serves as a posterior
anchor for the coxal
bones and as a
solid, posterior wall
for the pelvic girdle
The Coccyx Also known
tailbone
as the
“ .”

The Lower Extremities

The lower extremities or lower

appendages, and commonly, but
inappropriately, called the
“legs,” contain a total of sixty
(60) bones from regions
commonly called the “thigh,”
“shin,” “ankle,” and “foot.” The
bones of the lower extremities
listed proximally to distally are as
follows:
 Bones of the Lower
Extremities

Femur

Anterior View Posterior View

Patella (2)
 Bones of the Lower
Extremities

Tibia
Anterior View Posterior View
 Bones of the Lower
Extremities

Fibula
Anterior View Posterior View
 Reminder: Comparison of the Tibia to the Fibula Extremities

Medial
Lateral Medial Lateral

Tibia

Fabula
 1 2
Tarsals – dorsal view; Rt. foot 3
4
Medial 5 Lateral

1 = Calcaneus (heel bone)

2 = Talus (ankle bone) 4 5
6

3 = Navicular 3 7

4 = Medial Cuneiform
2
5 = Intermediate Cuneiform
6 = Lateral Cuneiform
1
7 = Cuboid
 Summary of Lower Extremities
1. Femur (2) – the “thighbone” 6. Metatarsals (10) – the “instep” or the “top
of the foot”
2. Patella (2) – the “kneecap”
7. Phalanges (28) – (singular =
phalanx) – the “toes”
3. Tibia (2) – the “shinbone”

4. Fibula (2) – the “calf bone”

5. Tarsals (14)

a. Talus
b. Calcaneus
c. Navicular
d. Cuboid
e. Medial Cuneiform
f. Intermediate Cuneiform
g. Lateral Cuneiform