Topographic Terminology

Question 1

Apophyseal (process)

Answer 1

Bony protuberance (ex: scapula)

Question 2

Canal

Answer 2

Passage in bone (ex: auditory canal)

Question 3

Condyle

Answer 3

Rounded and protruding articular surface (ex: tibial condyle)

Question 4

Crest

Answer 4

Sharp and elongated bony ridge (ex: iliac crest)

Question 5

Epicondyle

Answer 5

Bony protuberance superior to a condyle (ex: medial epicondyle of the humerus)

Question 6

Facet

Answer 6

Flat and smooth articular surface (ex: vertebral facets)

Question 7

Fissure

Answer 7

Open slit typically housing nerves or blood vessels

Question 8

Foramen

Answer 8

Round or oval opening (hole) in a bone (ex: foramen magnum (occipital bone))

Question 9

Fossa

Answer 9

Shallow depression in a bone (often an articular surface) (ex: Glenoid fossa (scapula))

Question 10

Fovea

Answer 10

Small pit (ex: fovea capitis (head of femur))

Question 11

Groove/sulcus

Answer 11

Canal between two bony protuberances to accomodate blood vessels, nerves, or tendons (ex: Bicipital groove)

Question 12

Head

Answer 12

Prominent rounded surface (ex: head of femur)

Question 13

Line (linea)

Answer 13

Small crest

Question 14

Meatus

Answer 14

Tube-like channel (ex: external acoustic meatus (ear canal))

Question 15

Notch

Answer 15

A depression in a bone that often improves stabilization (ex: radial notch of the ulna)

Question 16

Process

Answer 16

Bony protuberance (ex: olecranon process (ulna))

Question 17

Ramus

Answer 17

Armlike bar of bone (branch) (ex: superior pubic ramus)

Question 18

Spine

Answer 18

Sharp protuberance (ex: spine of scapula)

Question 19

Trochanter

Answer 19

Very large, blunt, irregular-shaped process (ex: greater trochanter (femur))

Question 20

Tubercle

Answer 20

Small, rounded process (ex: lesser tubercle (humerus))

Question 21

Tuberosity

Answer 21

Rough protuberance (ex: tibial tuberosity)