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Forensic Veterinary Osteology > Module 3: Bones, Features, ID And Siding-Axial Skeleton > Flashcards

Module 3: Bones, Features, ID And Siding-Axial Skeleton Flashcards

1
Q

Cranium

A

Fuse in many species and rarely found in isolation

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2
Q

Frontal bone

A

“Forehead”; encloses portion of eye orbitsl; articulates with maxilla and nasal bones rostrally, lacrimals and palatines, and sphenoid laterally, parietal bones posteriorly/caudally
Articulates with zygomatics in species with full postorbital closure/bar

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3
Q

Eye orbits

A

Delineated by postorbital processes on posterior-lateral aspect of bone

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4
Q

Frontal sinuses

A

Area between orbitals

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5
Q

Sinuses

A

Midline

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6
Q

Zygomatic process

A

Lateral

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7
Q

Coronal suture

A

Caudal

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8
Q

Temporal lines

A

Towards midline and caudal

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9
Q

Orbits

A

Size, orientation and completeness provide insight into reliance on vision for hunting/survival.
Large and semi-complete orbits (felines)-visual acuity in hunting
Large, well protected orbits (owls)-nocturnal vision
Anterior orbit creates visual field overlap and stereoscopic vision/depth perception
Smaller, less protected orbits (rodents)-less reliance on vision
Large, laterally places orbits (ungulates-horses, deer, cow)-see nearly 360 degrees for watching predators; monocular vision-no depth perception

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10
Q

Nasal bones

A

Concave on internal surface and meet at midline
Form superior surface of the nose
Length of nose: reliance on smell

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11
Q

Nasal conchae

A

Snail-like; act as turbines in sense of smell, larger in animals that rely more heavily on sense of smell

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12
Q

Lacrimals

A

Concave on external surface, contain tear ducts/lacrimal fossae
Size/shape vary
Location can be species diagnostic

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13
Q

Maxillae

A

Form the bulk of the face
Have infraorbital foramen-facial nerve passes
Incisive foramen-intramural surface of maxilla
Form lower margin of orbits, lateral margins of nasal opening, and contain most/all upper dentition
Infraorbital foramen vary among species

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14
Q

Siding maxilla

A

Teeth are lateral, canines and incisive foramen anterior
Exterior convex, interior concave

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15
Q

Premaxillae

A

Forms lower margin of nasal opening, contains anterior dentition (incisors, typically)
Some mammals have edentulous premaxilla (horse)

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16
Q

Siding premaxilla

A

Pointy projection caudally, incisors anterior/rostral
Midline concave

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17
Q

Palatines

A

Back part of roof of mouth
Each have large palatine foramen, plus often smaller accessory foramen
Canids-palatine foramen (major palatine foramen) at maxilla-palatine suture & posterior palatine foramen (minor palatine foramen) in actual palatine bone

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18
Q

Zygomatics/jugals/Malars

A

Cheek bones
Concave on internal surface
Temporal process-posterior projection; articulates with zygomatic process of temporal bone to form cheek bone
Superior projection-frontal process, smaller in canids, larger in felines, non-existent in rodents

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19
Q

Siding zygomatic

A

Anterior/rostral aspect wider for articulation with maxilla and caudal portion converges to a point inferiorly, point curves back towards midline

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20
Q

Temporals

A

Auditory structures
Posterior to zygomatic process-mandibular fossa, for articulation with mandibular condyle. Often a well-defined retro articulate process on posterior aspect of mandibular fossa
Auditory bulla-posterior to process ^, as well as external auditory meatus (ear hole); slightly inferior on the temporal and inflated and thin-walled
Internal to bulla-peatrus portion of temporal, very sturdy.
Temporal articulate with the parietals at squamosal suture-superiorly projecting fan shaped wing of bone that overlaps parietal striae or ridges on inferior aspect of parietals

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21
Q

Siding temporal

A

Auditory bulla inferior and caudal. Mandibular fossa at base of zygomatic process and tends to be more open anteriorly/rostrally with a “wall” on the caudal aspect. Zygomatic process sweeps anteriorly and converges to a point superiorly

22
Q

Parietals

A

Form superior aspect of the brain case, internally concave
External bone is smooth or has temporal ridges for attachment of temporal muscles
Internal surface undulating or grooved to accommodate ridges and furrows of brain and blood vessels on surface of brain. Crest can form to accommodate muscle attachments

23
Q

Siding the parietal

A

Straie inferior and sagittal suture/crest is superior and midline
Muscle markings sweep superiorly and caudally (fingers through hair)

24
Q

Occipital

A

Forms the posterior aspect of the cranium
Foramen magnum-large hole through which spinal cord passes
Occipital condyles-on either side of the foramen for articulation with first cervical vertebra
Paracondylar or jugular processes-lateral to occipital condyles
Paired condylar, jugular, and hypoglossal canals for nerves and blood vessels are on the occipital bones
Nuchal ridge-superior to the foramen magnum, increases in size with increased neck muscles
Basioccipital-basilar portion of the occipital, dense and projects rostrally to articulate with the sphenoid

25
Q

Siding the occipital

A

Occipital condyles are caudal and inferior; point up and out/lateral
Nuchal ridge is superior
Paracondylar processes point down, thinner at top and curve medial and thicker at bottom, can start to curve medically

26
Q

Sphenoid

A

Bat-like, mostly appreciated from the internal aspect of the cranium, has several wings and foramen
Optic nerves through the large optic canal
Often divided into several parts-presphenoid (smaller, more rostral), basisphenoid (larger, caudal), and pterygoid (inferiorly projecting wings)
Hypophysis (pituitary gland) sits in sella turcica

27
Q

Ethmoid

A

Anterior to the sphenoid
Delicate, pierced by the olfactory nerves, and can be quite large

28
Q

Vomer

A

Very thin, plow-shaped usually
Ruins down the midline of the nasal passage and articulates with the maxillae, palatines, and sphenoid

29
Q

Mandible

A

Formed by 2 horizontal rami that join anteriorly at mandibular symphysis, which fuses in some species
Contains lower dentition
Ascending ramus-posterior aspect of the mandible
Coronoid process-anterior bony projection on the ramus
Mandibular condyle-more posterior projection, articulates with the mandibular fossa of the temporal bone
Posterio-inferior projection-angular process, extension of the gonial angle
Single/multiple mental foramina found on horizontal ramus near canine or premolars-rostral, middle, and caudal mental foramen
Singular mandibular foramen on each horizontal ramus internal surface, posterior to molar at base of ascending ramus

30
Q

Mandible cont…

A

Dietary habits dictate shape
Grazing animals-looser articulations with the cranium for more lateral movement
Shearing animals-tighter articulations including larger retroarticular process or more sculpted mandibular fossa on temporal
Condyle in line with tooth row, arc of maxilla and mandible direct opposite-teeth meet more effectively (slicing, shearing, grinding)
Condyle well above tooth row allows teeth to approach at more oblique angle (rolling or milling)

31
Q

Siding mandible

A

Mandibular symphasis towards midline
Mental foramen lateral
Mandibular foramen medial
Looking at posterior aspect, coronoid process, mandibular condyle, and gonial angle all curve/point laterally

32
Q

Vertebra

A

Similar length neck to pelvis, cylindrical
Similar structures with some modifications
Ventral portion dominated by vertebral body which is sandwiched by intervertebral discs

33
Q

Amphiplatyan/aceolous vertebra

A

Flat on both surfaces, handle compressive forces

34
Q

Procoelous vertebra

A

Concave on cranial surface, convex on caudal surface, flexibility of the spine without excessive stretching of spinal cord
Reptiles/amphibians

35
Q

Opisthocoelous vertebra

A

Convex on cranial surface, concave on caudal, flexibility reptiles/amphibians

36
Q

Amphicoelus vertebra

A

Concave on both surfaces, wide range of motion, cartilaginous and bony fish

37
Q

Heterocoelus vertebra

A

Saddle-shaped and allow retraction of neck and restrict twisting reducing SCI
Birds and turtles

38
Q

Vertebral arch

A

Dorsal aspect of vertebra

39
Q

Pedicle

A

Short segments of arch closest to the body

40
Q

Lamina

A

Plate-like segment closest to spinous process

41
Q

Spinous process

A

Dorsal projection of bone at the midline

42
Q

Transverse processes

A

Lateral projections at the intersection of the pedicle and lamina

43
Q

Superior/cranial and inferior/caudal articular facets

A

Allow for articulation between the vertebra and also located at the intersection of the pedicle and lamina
Cranial face dorsally, caudal ventrally

44
Q

Cervical vertebrae

A

7 usually
Transverse foramen in transverse processes to allow vertebral arteries to pass
Superior/cranial and inferior/caudal articular facets flat and horizontal
Spinous processes shorter than thoracic vertebra, increase from cranial to caudal
Ventral crest on ventral surface

45
Q

C-1

A

Atlas
Articulates with cranium
Flattened ventrodorsally and has large wings caudally projecting
Superior articular facets are cupped while caudal are flattened
Cranial joint allows flexion and extension of head

46
Q

C-2

A

Axis
Allows pivoting of atlas and rotation of head
Cranially has dens projection (body of c-1 transferred)
Shape of dens can suggest rotation degree allowed
Elongated and spinous process is sail-like

47
Q

C-7

A

Transitional vertebra, last cervical vertebra
Has characteristics of cervical and thoracic
Lacks transverse foramen often and spinous process is elongated and looks like thoracic
Some caudal articular facets curved
Caudal costal fovea present for first rib articulation

48
Q

Thoracic vertebrae

A

11-16
Ribs articulate with these at the cranial and caudal costal fovea (demifacets) and at transverse processes (which are longer than cervical vertebra and have articular facet or transverse fovea on ventro-lateral aspect)
1-10 have 2 costal fovea, while 11+ often have 1
Enlarged spinous processes, decreasing from cranial to caudal (t-2 or t-3 largest)-area of insertion for muscles
Facets (sup/inf) are flat, but slightly sloped
Head of rib articulates with 2 thoracic bodies, cranial and caudal, tubercle of rib articulates with transverse fovea
Spinous processes point caudally, but decrease at t7 or t8. T9 and t10 shorten and t11 almost perpendicular to body. T12 to lumbar, point slightly cranial and increase in size
Middle through lower lumbar have accessory process projecting caudally
T11 cranial and caudal articular facets curve medially and laterally, respectively for flexion and extension; still have articular facets of ribs

49
Q

Lumbar vertebrae

A

4-7
Longer bodies than thoracic vertebra, elongated transverse processes with no articular facets
Increase in size descending, project cranially, some accessory processes that project caudally
Sup/inf. Facets curved
Sup towards midline/concave, inf convex
Spinous processes point slightly cranially and increase in size from cranial to caudal

50
Q

Sacral vertebrae

A

3-6 that fuse
1st sacral element articulates with most posterior/inferior lumbar vertebra
Articular surface-promontory
Alae-wings of sacrum, articulate with os coxa at auricular surface
1st sacral element also has curved superior/anterior facets for articulation with last lumbar vertebra
Sacrum fused to os coxa usually

51
Q

Coccygeal/caudal vertebrae

A

Variable on whether or not there is a tail
First few have transverse and spinous processes and cranial and caudal facets in reduced form, eventually lost
Transverse processes project caudally

52
Q

Sternum

A

Articulates with clavicle if present, and ribs
Directly articulates with more anterior ribs (true ribs) via cartilaginous attachments, indirectly via common cartilage with lower/false ribs
Several segments: manubrium (most cranial with cranial projection), xiphoid process (caudal segment, flattened)
Body of sternum can be several sternebra joined by cartilage or fused into one element

Forensic Veterinary Osteology (14 decks)

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