Chapter 5 – Key Terms
angle of the mandible rounded corner located at outside margin of the body and ramus junction
angle of the rib portion of rib with greatest curvature; together, the rib angles form the most posterior extent of the thoracic cage
anterior arch anterior portion of the ring-like C1 (atlas) vertebra
anterior cranial fossa shallowest and most anterior cranial fossa of the cranial base that extends from the frontal bone to the lesser wing of the sphenoid bone
anterior longitudinal ligament ligament that runs the length of the vertebral column, uniting the anterior aspects of the vertebral bodies
annulus fibrosus tough, fibrous outer portion of an intervertebral disc, which is strongly anchored to the bodies of the adjacent vertebrae
appendicular skeleton all bones of the upper and lower limbs, plus the girdle bones that attach each limb to the axial skeleton
atlas first cervical (C1) vertebra
axial skeleton central, vertical axis of the body, including the skull, vertebral column, and thoracic cage
axis second cervical (C2) vertebra
body of the rib shaft portion of a rib
brain case portion of the skull that contains and protects the brain, consisting of the eight bones that form the cranial base and rounded upper skull
carotid canal zig-zag tunnel providing passage through the base of the skull for the internal carotid artery to the brain; begins anteromedial to the styloid process and terminates in the middle cranial cavity, near the posterior-lateral base of the sella turcica
cervical curve posteriorly concave curvature of the cervical vertebral column region; a secondary curve of the vertebral column
cervical vertebrae seven vertebrae numbered as C1–C7 that are located in the neck region of the vertebral column
clavicular notch paired notches located on the superior-lateral sides of the sternal manubrium, for articulation with the clavicle
coccyx small bone located at inferior end of the adult vertebral column that is formed by the fusion of four coccygeal vertebrae; also referred to as the “tailbone”
coronal suture joint that unites the frontal bone to the right and left parietal bones across the top of the skull
costal cartilage hyaline cartilage structure attached to the anterior end of each rib that provides for either direct or indirect attachment of most ribs to the sternum
costal facet site on the lateral sides of a thoracic vertebra for articulation with the head of a rib
cranial cavity interior space of the skull that houses the brain
cranium skull
cribriform plate small, flattened areas with numerous small openings, located to either side of the midline in the floor of the anterior cranial fossa; formed by the ethmoid bone
crista galli small upward projection located at the midline in the floor of the anterior cranial fossa; formed by the ethmoid bone
dens bony projection (odontoid process) that extends upward from the body of the C2 (axis) vertebra
ear ossicles three small bones located in the middle ear cavity that s