Glossary: Bones and Related Anatomic Terms

Question 1

Acetabulum

Answer 1

Cup-shaped socket in the pelvis.

Question 2

Appendicular skeleton

Answer 2

Bones of the limbs.

Question 3

Atlas

Answer 3

First cervical vertebra.

Question 4

Axial skeleton

Answer 4

Bones of the skull, vertebral column, ribs, and sternum.

Question 5

Axis

Answer 5

Second cervical vertebra.

Question 6

Cancellous bone

Answer 6

Inner spongy surface of long bones.

Question 7

Cannon bone

Answer 7

Common name for metacarpal and metatarsal III in horses.

Question 8

Cervical

Answer 8

Vertebrae of the neck.

Question 9

Clavicle

Answer 9

Bone found in some species that serves as portion of the chest; collarbone.

Question 10

Coccygeal

Answer 10

Vertebrae of the tail.

Question 11

Coffin, pedal bone

Answer 11

Distal phalanx of the horse.

Question 12

Compact bone

Answer 12

Outer hard shell of bone.

Question 13

Costal cartilages

Answer 13

Cartilage of ribs.

Question 14

Cranium

Answer 14

Portion of the skull encasing the brain.

Question 15

Dewclaw

Answer 15

Digit 1 or the medial digit in some species such as dogs, also vestigial digits II and V in sheep, goats, and cattle.

Question 16

Diaphysis

Answer 16

Central part of the bone shaft.

Question 17

Digit

Answer 17

Distal extremity made up of phalanges ( ex. toes, claws, hoofs)

Question 18

Epiphysis

Answer 18

End part of developing bone.

Question 19

Epiphysitis

Answer 19

Inflammation of the epiphysis of a bone.

Question 20

Femur

Answer 20

Upper bone in the hind limb.

Question 21

Fibula

Answer 21

More lateral and smaller of the two bones distal to the stifle joint (next to the tibia)

Question 22

Foramen (foramena is plural)

Answer 22

Opening in bone.

Question 23

Foramen magnum

Answer 23

Large opening in the occipital bone connecting the cranial cavity to the vertebral canal.

Question 24

Frontal bone

Answer 24

Bone forming the forepart of the cranium.

Question 25

Humerus

Answer 25

Large bone of the forelimb, between the shoulder and the elbow.

Question 26

Hyoid

Answer 26

U-shaped bone at the base of the tongue.

Question 27

Ilium

Answer 27

Cranial bones of the pelvis.

Question 28

Interosseous ligament

Answer 28

Ligament between splint and cannon bone in the horse.

Question 29

Intervertebral disks

Answer 29

Cushions found between the bodies of vertebrae.

Question 30

Ischium

Answer 30

Caudal bones of the pelvis, most caudal projections are called pin bones.

Question 31

Lumbar

Answer 31

Vertebrae of the back.

Question 32

Mandible

Answer 32

Movable portion of the skull; lower jaw.

Question 33

Maxilla

Answer 33

Portion of the skull; upper jaw.

Question 34

Medullary cavity

Answer 34

Innermost portion of bones.

Question 35

Metacarpals

Answer 35

Bones distal to the carpus and proximal to the phalanges, variable in number between species.

Question 36

Metatarsals

Answer 36

Bones distal to the tarsus and proximal to the phalanges, variable in number between species.

Question 37

Navicular

Answer 37

Boat-shaped, distal sesamoid in the hoof of the horse.

Question 38

Occipital

Answer 38

Bone forming the back of the skull.

Question 39

Olecranon

Answer 39

Proximal process of the ulna at the elbow joint.

Question 40

Os penis

Answer 40

Bone found within the penis of the dog.

Question 41

Osteoblasts

Answer 41

Bone-forming cells.

Question 42

Osteoclasts

Answer 42

Bone-remodeling cells.

Question 43

Osteology

Answer 43

The study of bone.

Question 44

Parietal

Answer 44

Lateral bones of the cranium.

Question 45

Patella

Answer 45

Bone over the stifle joint.

Question 46

Pelvis

Answer 46

Girdle of bone encircling the caudal abdomen and providing attachment for the hind limb.

Question 47

Periosteum

Answer 47

Membrane covering bone.

Question 48

Phalanges (singular, phalanx)

Answer 48

Bones of the digits.

Question 49

Pubis

Answer 49

Ventral bones of the pelvis.

Question 50

Quadruped

Answer 50

A four-footed animal.

Question 51

Radius

Answer 51

More medial bone of two bones distal to the elbow ( next to the ulna)

Question 52

Ribs

Answer 52

Flat, curved bones forming the thoracic wall and protecting the lungs and heart.

Question 53

Sacrum

Answer 53

Fused sacral vertebrae resulting in one bone to which the pelvis is attached.

Question 54

Scapula

Answer 54

Shoulder blade.

Question 55

Sesamoid

Answer 55

Any small flat bone embedded in tendon or joint capsule.

Question 56

Sinuses

Answer 56

Air spaces within the skull.

Question 57

Sphenoid

Answer 57

Wedge-shaped bone at the base of the skull.

Question 58

Splint bones

Answer 58

Common name for metacarpals or metatarsals II and IV in the horse.

Question 59

Sternebrae

Answer 59

Series of unpaired bones on ventral chest that make up the sternum.

Question 60

Sternum

Answer 60

Breastbone, bone on ventral chest.

Question 61

Sutures

Answer 61

Seams of the bones of the skull.

Question 62

Temporal

Answer 62

Bones forming the sides and base of the skull.

Question 63

Thoracic

Answer 63

Vertebrae of the chest or thorax.

Question 64

Tibia

Answer 64

More medial and larger of the two bones distal to the stifle joint (next to the fibula).

Question 65

Turbinates

Answer 65

Scroll-like bones in the nasal cavity.

Question 66

Ulna

Answer 66

More lateral of the two bones distal to the elbow (next to the radius).

Question 67

Ungulates

Answer 67

Animals with hooves.

Question 68

Vertebra

Answer 68

Spinal column bone.

Question 69

Xiphoid process

Answer 69

Caudalmost sternebra.