UNIT 3

The Axial Skeleton Chapter 7

Vertebral column

The bones of the spine

Text page 218-224

Vertebral Column

Vertebrae
7 cervical vertebrae
12 thoracic vertebrae
5 lumbar vertebrae
Sacrum
Coccyx
Sacrum and coccyx are
fused vertebrae

Text page 218-224

 Vertebral Anatomy
Typically each vertebra
has a body and
vertebral arch and
articular processes

Superior and inferior

articular processes
communicate with the
vertebra above and
below

Separated by
intervertebral discs
made of fibrocartilage

Text page 218-224

 7 Cervical Vertebrae
Smallest
vertebrae
Has distinctive
shape with holes
on each side for
arteries and veins
transverse
foramina
Notched bifid
spinous
processes
Text page 218-224
 Two cervical vertebra have
specific names
Atlas has no spinous process or body!
The skull sits on top
Yes of atlas

No
Atlas sits on top of axis

Text page 218-224

 12 Thoracic Vertebrae
Heart-shaped body
Long slender spinous processes
Articulations for ribs called costal facets

Superior
articular
process

Transverse
process

Costal
facets
Spinous
Spinous
process Text page 218-224
process
 5 Lumbar Vertebrae
Largest
Least mobile
Subjected to great stresses
Transverse
process

Spinous
process

Body

Body

L1 L5 Text page 218-224

Can you tell which is cervical,
thoracic or lumbar?
 Sacrum
5 fused vertebrae Central canal = sacral canal
Protects
reproductive,
digestive and Median
sacral
urinary organs crest

Articulates with
pelvic girdle and
fused elements of
coccyx

Holes on either side = sacral foramen

Text page 222-224
The Sacrum and Coccyx

Text page 222-224

Thoracic cage

Sternum and ribs

Text page 224-226

 Thoracic/Rib Cage
Thoracic vertebrae
Ribs
Ribs 1-7 (True ribs) are attached to sternum
8-12 are (False ribs) vertebrochondral ribs
Attachedtoeachotherbyhyalinecartilage
11-12 are floating ribs
Do not connect round the front
Sternum
Manubrium
Body
Xiphoid process
Text page 224-226
 Thoracic cage
Ribs:
Sternum:
7 True Ribs Manubrium
1-7
(True because cartilage
Body
attaches directly to
sternum)
Xiphoid
Process

5 False Ribs
8 - 12
(False because cartilage 7
attaches to other cartilage
not sternum)
8

The bottom 2
false ribs are
Floating Ribs
(Vertebral)
Text page 224-226
Rib/Vertebra articulation

Text page 224-226

The Thoracic/Rib Cage

Text page 224-226

Hyoid Bone
Text page 215
The skull

Text page 201-215

 The Skull
Consists of the cranium and the bones of the face
The cranium encloses cranial cavity
Facial bones surround and protect the entrances to the respiratory and digestive tracts
Superficial landmarks include the sutures
Lambdoid
Coronal
Sagittal
Squamous
Frontonasal

Text page 201-215

Subdivisions of the Skull

Text page 201-215

 The Skull
Parietal
Parietal Parietal
Cranial bones

Temporal 6 External = al Occipital

2 Internal = oid

paired bones

Text page 198-201

Frontal
Sphenoid
T T
e e
m m
Ethmoid p p
o o
r r
al al

Occipital
Text page 201-215
 Memorization hints
All bones articulate to
sphenoid
If you look in the eye socket
Back of socket
Sphenoid
Sphenoid
If you look in the nasal
Ethmoid
cavity
Hanging down you see
ethmoid

Text page 201-215

 The Skull
Facial bones
Nasal
Maxilla
Lacrimal
Paletine
Zygomatic
Maxilla

Mandible Vomer

Nasal
Lacrimal

Zygomatic

Inferior Nasal Concha

Vomer

Maxilla
Mandible
Text page 201-215
 Internal Bones

Ethmoid Ethmoid

Frontal

Sphenoid
Pa Keystone of the cranium
r
I
e
t
Temporal Temporal
a
l

Sphenoid Vomer

Paletine
Occipital

Text page 201-215

Some bones have spaces for air
inside called sinuses

Text page 215

Sutures and fontanels

Text page 244

 Skulls of Infants and Children
Fontanels permit skulls of infants and
children to continue growing

Text page 244

 In adults fontanels have closed
and become sutures
Coronal Sagittal
Suture Suture

Frontonasal
Suture
Parietal Parietal

= lambda
Squamos(al) Suture
Lambdoid(al)
Suture
Markings of the skull

Processes and protrusions

Text page 201-215

 Zygomatic
process

Zygomatic

Alveolar Mastoid
margins process
Styloid
process

Text page 201-215

 PALATINE
PROCESS

ZYGOMATIC
PROCESS Palatine

OCCIPITAL
CONDYLE

Occipital

Text page 201-215

 MANDIBULAR
FOSSA

Temporal CORONOID
Bone
PROCESS

MANDIBULAR
CONDYLE

Ramus

Text page 201-215

 Sphenoid
CRISTA
GALLI
Holder for pituitary
gland

SELLA TURCICA

Turkish saddle!

Text page 201-215

 Sphenoid

LESSER LESSER
WINGS WINGS

GREATER
WINGS
Sella
Turcica

Turkish saddle! PTEREGOID

PROCESS
Holder for pituitary
gland

Text page 201-215

 Ethmoid
CRISTA CRIBIFORM
GALLI PLATE

Crista galli

Ethmoid sinuses

Text page 201-215

Foramen and meatus

Holes and tunnels

 Openings to allow passage of nerves and vessels

OPTIC
CANAL SUPRAORBITAL
FORAMEN

SUPERIOR
ORBITAL
FISSURE

INFERIOR
ORBITAL
FISSURE

INFRAORBITAL
FORAMEN

Mental EXTERNAL
foramen AUDITORY
MEATUS

Text page 201-215

Foramen magnum :
Hole for spinal cord

Jugular foramen:
jugular vein
FORAMEN
CRIBRIFORM ROTUNDUM
PLATE
Acoustic meatus:
nerves to ear OPTIC FORAMEN OVALE
CANAL

Carotid canal:
carotid artery

Foramen ovale:
mixture of nerves and CAROTID
arteries CANAL

FORAMEN
Foramen rotundum: MAGNUM INTERNAL
Maxillary nerve ACOUSTIC
MEATUS

JUGULAR
FORAMEN

Text page 201-215

Text page 201-215
Mandible Text page 201-215