Surface Features Of Bones

Question 1

Fovea

Answer 1

Pit-like landmark e.g. fovea capitis of femur

This is a depression on surface of bone for passage of blood vessels and other soft tissues.

Question 2

Sulcus/groove

Answer 2

Furrow that accommodates soft tissue such as blood vessels, nerves or tendons.

This is a depression.

Question 3

Fossa

Answer 3

Basin-like depression

Question 4

Cavity

Answer 4

Spacious open area

This is a depression

Question 5

Notch

Answer 5

A C or U shaped depression.

Question 6

Fissure

Answer 6

Narrow slit like opening between adjacent parts of bones through which blood vessels or nerves pass (e.g. superior orbital fissure of sphenoid bone)

Question 7

Canal

Answer 7

Tube like passageway

Question 8

Foramen

Answer 8

Hole

Question 9

Articulating head

Answer 9

Rounded articular projection supported by a neck (e.g. head of humerus)

Question 10

Articulating condyle

Answer 10

Large knuckle like articular projection (e.g. medial chondyle of femur)

Question 11

Articulating facet

Answer 11

Smooth flat surface (e.g. superior and inferior articulating facets of vertebrae)

Question 12

Non-articulating epichondyle

Answer 12

Smaller projection above chondyle, usually attachment site for muscles and ligaments e.g. medial epichondyle of femur)

Question 13

Non-articulating trochanter

Answer 13

Blunt projection (only on femur, lesser and greater trochanters of femur)

Question 14

Non-articulating tubercle

Answer 14

Small knob like rounded process

Question 15

Tuberosity

Answer 15

Large often rounded usually roughened process (usually an attachment site e.g. tibial tuberosity)

Question 16

Crest

Answer 16

Prominent border or ridge (e.g. iliac crest)

Question 17

Line (non-articulating)

Answer 17

Less prominent ridge than a crest

Question 18

Spine

Answer 18

Sharp slender process (e.g. spinous process of vertebra)