Skeletal System #2

• Parts of the axial skeleton

  • Skull
  • Vertebral column
  • Thoracic cage
• Skull


  22 bones divided into those of the braincase and those of the face
• Bones of the braincase

  • 8 bones that immediately surround and protect the brain
• Bones of the face

  • 14 facial bones
• Cranial + face = 22 bones
• Facial bones


  • 13 are rather solidly connected to form the bulk of the face
  • The mandible forms a freely movable joint with the rest of the skull
• There are also three auditory ossicles in each middle ear (six total)
• Cranial bones


  • Frontal bone
  • Parietal bones
  • Occipital bones
  • Temporal bones
  • Sphenoid bone
  • Ethmoid bone
• Facial bones


  • Maxillae
  • Palatine bones
  • Zygomatic bones
  • Lacrimal bones
  • Nasal bones
  • Vomer
  • Inferior nasal conchae
  • Mandible
• Hyoid bone


  Unpaired, U-shaped bone not part of the skull and has no direct bony attachment to the skull or any other bones
• Regions of the vertebral column

  • 7 cervical vertebrae
  • 12 thoracic vertebrae
  • 5 lumbar vertebrae
  • 1 sacrum
  • 1 coccyx
• Atlas


  1st vertebra that holds the head
• Axis


  2nd vertebra that rotates the head
• Functions of the vertebral column

  • Supports body weight
  • Protects the spinal cord
  • Allows spinal nerves to exit the spinal cord
  • Provides a site for muscle attachment
  • Provides movement of the head and trunk
• Parts of the thoracic cage

  • 12 pairs of ribs
  • Sternum (breastbone)
  • True ribs (1-7)
  • False ribs (8-12)
  • Floating ribs
• Bones of the pectoral girdle


  • Scapula (shoulder blade)
  • Clavicle (collar bone)
• Bones of the upper limb

  • Humerus
  • Ulna
  • Radius
  • Carpals
  • Metacarpals
  • Phalanges
• Radius


  Rounded head
• Ulna


  1. shaped head
• Bones of the wrist and hand

  • Metacarpals
  • Carpals
• Bones of the pelvic girdle

  • Sacrum
  • Ilium
  • Ischium
  • Pubis
  • Acetabulum
• Bones of the lower limb

  • Femur
  • Patella
  • Tibia
  • Fibula
  • Tarsals
  • Metatarsals
  • Phalanges