Book Vocab

Question 1

acetabulum

Answer 1

Rounded depression, or socket, in the pelvis that joins the femur (thigh bone), forming the hip joint.

Question 2

acromion

Answer 2

Outward extension of the shoulder blade forming the point of the shoulder. It overlies the shoulder joint and articulates with the clavicle.

Question 3

articular cartilage

Answer 3

Thin layer of cartilage covering the bone in the joint space.

Question 4

bone

Answer 4

Dense, hard connective tissue composing the skeleton. Examples are long bones (femur), short bones (carpals), flat bones (scapula), and sesamoid bones (patella).

Question 5

bone depression

Answer 5

Opening or hollow region serving as a connection for bones, or passageways for blood vessels and nerves. Examples are fissure, foramen, fossa, and sinus.

Question 6

bone process

Answer 6

Enlarged area that extends from bones as an attachment for muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Examples are bone head, condyle, epicondyle, trochanter, tubercle, and tuberosity.

Question 7

calcium

Answer 7

One of the mineral constituents of bone. Calcium phosphate is the major calcium salt in bones.

Question 8

cancellous bone

Answer 8

Spongy, porous, bone tissue in the inner part of a bone.

Question 9

cartilage

Answer 9

Flexible, rubbery connective tissue. It is found in the immature skeleton, at the epiphyseal growth plate, and on joint surfaces.

Question 10

collagen

Answer 10

Dense, connective tissue protein strands found in bone and other tissue.

Question 11

compact bone

Answer 11

Hard, dense bone tissue, usually found around the outer portion of bones.

Question 12

cranial bones

Answer 12

Skull bones: ethmoid, frontal, occipital, parietal, sphenoid, and temporal.

Question 13

diaphysis

Answer 13

Shaft, or mid-portion, of a long bone.

Question 14

disk (disc)

Answer 14

Flat, round, plate-like structure. An intervertebral disk is a fibrocartilaginous substance between two vertebrae.

Question 15

epiphyseal plate

Answer 15

Cartilaginous area at the ends of long bones where lengthwise growth takes place in the immature skeleton.

Question 16

epiphysis

Answer 16

Each end of a long bone; the area beyond the epiphyseal plate.

Question 17

facial bones

Answer 17

Bones of the face: lacrimal, mandibular, maxillary, nasal, vomer, and zygomatic.

Question 18

fontanelle

Answer 18

Soft spot (incomplete bone formation) between the skull bones of an infant.

Question 19

foramen magnum

Answer 19

Opening of the occipital bone through which the spinal cord passes.

Question 20

haversian canals

Answer 20

Minute spaces filled with blood vessels; found in compact bone.

Question 21

ligament

Answer 21

Fibrous tissue connecting bones to other bones.

Question 22

malleolus

Answer 22

Round process on both sides of the ankle joint. The lateral malleolus is part of the fibula, and the medial malleolus is part of the brain.

Question 23

manubrium

Answer 23

Upper portion of the sternum; articulates with the medial aspect of the clavicle.

Question 24

mastoid process

Answer 24

Round projection on the temporal bone behind the ear.

Question 25

medullary cavity

Answer 25

Central, hollowed-out area in the shaft of a long bone.

Question 26

metaphysis

Answer 26

Flared portion of a long bone, between the diaphysis (shaft) and the epiphyseal plate (in this term, meta- means between).

Question 27

olecranon

Answer 27

Large process on the proximal end of the ulna; the point of the flexed elbow.

Question 28

orthopedist

Answer 28

Medical doctor who specializes in bone, joint, and muscle conditions.

Question 29

osseous tissue

Answer 29

Bone tissue.

Question 30

ossification

Answer 30

Bone cell that helps form bony tissue.

Question 31

osteoblast

Answer 31

Bone cell that helps form bony tissue.

Question 32

osteoclast

Answer 32

Bone cells that absorbs and removes unwanted bony tissue.

Question 33

periosteum

Answer 33

Membrane surrounding bones; rich in blood vessels and nerve tissue.

Question 34

phosphorus

Answer 34

Mineral substance found in bones in combination with calcium.

Question 35

physiatrist

Answer 35

Medical doctor specializing in rehabilitation (physic/o means function).

Question 36

pubic symphysis

Answer 36

Area of confluence (coming together) of the two pubic bones in the pelvis. They are joined (sym = together, -physis = to grow) by a fibrocartilaginous disk.

Question 37

red bone marrow

Answer 37

Found in cancellous bone; site of hematopoiesis.

Question 38

ribs

Answer 38

Twelve pairs of curved bones that form the chest wall. True ribs are the first 7 pairs; false ribs are pairs to 8 to 10; floating ribs are pairs 11 and 12.

Question 39

sella turcica

Answer 39

Depression in the sphenoid bone where the pituitary gland is located.

Question 40

sinus

Answer 40

Hollow air cavity within a bone.

Question 41

styloid process

Answer 41

Pole-like process extending downward from the temporal bone on each side of the skull.

Question 42

suture

Answer 42

Immovable joint between bones, such as the skull (cranium).

Question 43

temporomandibular joint

Answer 43

Connection on either side of the head between the temporal bone of the skull and mandibular bone of the jar.

Question 44

tendon

Answer 44

Fibrous connective tissue connecting muscles and bones.

Question 45

trabeculae

Answer 45

Supporting bundles of bony fibers in cancellous (spongy) bone.

Question 46

vertebra

Answer 46

Individual segment of the spine composed of the vertebral body, vertebral arch, spinous process, transverse process, and lamina, enclosing the neural canal.

Question 47

xiphoid process

Answer 47

Lower, narrow portion of the sternum.

Question 48

yellow bone marrow

Answer 48

Fatty tissue found in the medullary cavity of most adult long bones.