Appendicular Skeleton Flashcards
What is contained in the Appendicular Skeleton?
Pectoral Girdle
Pelvic Girdle
Bones of the upper and lower limbs
What is the purpose of the pelvic and pectoral girdle?
Secure limb bones to the axial skeleton
What is part of the pectoral girdle?
Clavicle (anterior) and scapula (posterior)
What are the points of articulations in the clavicle?
Medial (sternal) end of each clavicle articulates with
the sternum at the clavicular notch.
➢ Lateral (acromial) end articulates with acromion of the
scapula
What are the three main features of the anterior scapula?
- Triangular Body with 3 Borders & 3 Angles
- Coracoid process – arises from
lateral superior border.
Muscle attachment point - Glenoid fossa – concave
articular surface that articulates
with the humerus
What are some features of the posterior scapula?
Spine – transverse ridge on posterior surface.
➢ Lateral aspect terminates as Acromion which forms
articulation with clavicle
3 Fossae provide origin points for rotator cuff muscles;
➢ Subscapular (anterior)
➢ Infraspinous (posterior)
➢ Supraspinous (posterior)
Inferior angle formed by junction of lateral & medial borders.
What are some features of the proximal humerus?
➢ Head - smooth hemispherical projection that forms an
articulation with glenoid fossa of scapula.
➢ Greater & lesser tubercles - sites of muscle attachment
➢ Intertubercular / bicipital sulcus - elongated groove that
guides the tendon of biceps brachii muscle.
Features of the distal humerus
➢ Medial epicondyle – medial projection. Provides origin
point for several flexor muscles of antebrachium (forearm)
➢ Lateral epicondyle – lateral projection. Provides origin
point for several extensor muscles of antebrachium
➢ Capitulum – articulates with fovea of head of radius
➢ Trochlea – articulates with trochlear notch of ulna
Features of the Ulna
➢ Trochlear notch – deep C-shaped indentation that forms
articulation with humerus.
➢ Olecranon process – posterior prominence of trochlear notch.
➢ Coronoid process – anterior prominence of trochlear notch.
Main features on radius
Head – distinctive disc of proximal aspect. Articulates with
capitulum of humerus & radial notch of ulna
➢ Radial tuberosity – attachment point
for biceps brachii muscle
➢ Ulnar notch – point of articulation with
distal aspect of ulna
Bones of the Forearm: Radius
➢Styloid process – bony prominence at
distal aspect that can be felt adjacent
to the thumb
What is skeleton of the wrist formed by
8 Carpal bones
What rows are carpal bones organised into?
2 rows, proximal and distal (4 bones in each section)
What bones are in the distal row of the carpals?
Hamate, Capitate, trapezoid, trapezium
What bones are in the Proximal carpal bones
Pisiform, Triquetrum, lunate, scaphoid
What is the palm consisted of?
Metacarpals. 5 long bones radiating from wrist. Proximal ends of bones articulate with carpals.
What are digits made of?
14 individual phalanx bones
What is thumb known as and how many phalanx does it have?
pollex and has proximal and distal phalanx
How many bones is Pelvis composed of and what are they?
4 Bones
Sacrum, coccyx, right and left ossa coxae
What is a part of the pelvic girdle?
Right and left ossa coxae
What is the duty of the right and left ossa coxae?
➢ Transfers weight of upper body to lower limbs
➢ Protects visceral organs in pelvic cavity
What is each os coxa composed of?
➢ Each os coxa (coxal/hip) bone composed of 3 regions
- Ilium - largest
- Ischium - posterioinferior
- Pubis - anteroinferior
Two additional features of the ossa coxae are?
Acetabulum- Deep socket that forms articulation with head of femur
Obturator foramen- Large hole inferior to acetabulum through which some blood vessels & nerves pass
Features of the ilium?
Iliac crest – superior margin
Ala – winglike portion
Anterior superior iliac spine – Easily
felt through skin
Features of the Ischium
Ischial spine – ligament attachment point Ischial tuberosity – roughened prominence that bears body weight when sitting.
Features of the pubis
Body - Anterior aspect unites with
other coxal bone at pubic
symphysis.
Inferior ramus
What is the only bone in the thigh?
The Femur
Proximal features of the Femur
➢ Head- rounded projection, articulates with acetabulum
➢ Neck - connects head to shaft
➢ Greater trochanter - projects laterally from junction of neck
& shaft
➢ Lesser trochanter – projection located on posteromedial
surface of neck
➢ The trochanters are important muscle attachment points
What is in the shaft of the femur?
➢Linea aspera – vertical ridge on posterior shaft.
Provides muscle attachment points
Distal features of the Femur
➢ Lateral & medial condyles – large rounded projections that
articulate with lateral & medial condyles of tibia
➢ Intercondylar fossa – deep recess on posterior surface that
separates the two condyles
➢ Patellar surface - medial depression on anterior surface that
articulates with patella
What type of bone is the patella
Knee bone, triangular sesamoid bone
Main features of patella
Has broad superior base & pointed apex
➢ Articulates with patella surface of femur
Duty and positioning of the tibia
The Tibia is the medial bone of the leg & receives the weight
of the body
Proximal features of tibia
➢ Medial & lateral condyles – articulate with the condyles of
the femur.
➢ Intercondylar eminence – an irregular projection between
the two condyles.
➢ Tibial tuberosity – attachment site for patellar ligament
which is continuous with tendon of Quadriceps femoris
muscle group.
Shaft of tibia
Anterior border / crest – triangular projection along anterior
shaft.
Features of distal tibia
Articulates with fibula & talus (bone of foot). ➢ Medial malleolus – a prominent process that forms the medial bulge of the ankle.
What is the fibula ?
the lateral bone of the leg but does not bear weight.
Provides sites for muscle attachment.
Features of the fibula
➢ Head – articulates with proximal
aspect of tibia
➢ Lateral malleolus – lateral projection
that forms lateral bulge of ankle
How many tarsal bones are there and what are their categorisation?
7 bones of the posterior half of foot
➢ Bones organised into 2 groups (proximal & distal)
What is the function of talus and where does it articulate?
Talus articulates with tibia at trochlear surface & fibula at
lateral aspect
Carries body weight
What are the distal bones of the tarsus?
Medial cuneiform, intermediate cuneiform, lateral cuneiform and cuboid
What are the proximal bones of the tarsus?
Navicular, talus and calcaneus
What are metatarsals?
➢ 5 small long bones radiating from tarsus
➢ Distal ends articulate with phalanges.
What are phalanges in the feet?
➢ 14 individual bones (phalanx) of the toes ➢ Each toe has a proximal, middle & distal phalanx except the great toe (hallux) that has only a proximal & distal phalanx.
How many bones are in the Appendicular skeleton?
126 bones
Which organs does the pelvic girdle protect?
▪ Reproductive organs
▪ Urinary bladder
▪ Part of the large intestine
Arches of the feet
▪ Bones of the foot are arranged to form three strong
arches
▪ Two longitudinal
▪ One transverse
