Orthopedics/ Skeletal System: Medical Term

Intervertebral Disks

Makes up ¼ of the length of the vertebral column and separates most vertebrae.

Sacrum

A group of five fused vertebra that are not individually numbered , except for the first sacral vertebra; S1. The sacrum joins with the hip bones in the posterior pelvis.

Clavicle

A thin, rod-like bone on each side of the anterior neck also known as the collar bone.

Spine, Backbone

A vertical column of bones also known as the vertebral column or spinal column. The vertebral column supports the weight of the head, neck, and trunk of the body and protects the spinal cord.

Frontal Bone

The bone that forms the forehead and top of the cranium and ends at the coronal structure.

Skull

The bony structure of the head.

Cranium

The domelike bone at the top of the head.

Carpal Bones

The eight small bones arranged in two rows within the wrists.

Atlas

The first cervical vertebra: C1 vertebrae which is located directly below the occipital bone of the cranium. Its appearance is different from the other cervical vertebrae because it must form a joint that allows the head to move up and down.

Hyoid Bone

The flat, U-shaped bone in the anterior neck. It does not connect directly to any other bones. It is attached by ligaments to the styloid process of each temporal bone.

Tibia

The large bone on the medial side of the lower leg, also known as the shin bone, and is the largest bone of the body.

Appendicular Skeleton

The part of the skeleton which consists of the bones of the shoulders upper extremities, hips, and lower extremities.

Axial Skeleton

The part of the skeleton which forms the central bony structure of the body around which other parts move; it consists of the bones of the head, chest, and back.

Axis

The second cervical vertebra: C2. Vertebrae which fits into the atlas to form a joint that allows the head to move from side to side.

Spinal Column

The spinal column consists of five regions: cervical vertebrae, thoracic vertebrae, lumber vertebrae, and the sacrum and coccyx. The vertebrae become progressively larger from top to bottom as they bear more and more of the weight of the body.

Vertebral Column

The spine or backbone that contains 24 individual vertebrae, plus the sacrum and coccyx. It is divided into five regions: the cervical vertebrae, the thoracic vertebrae, the lumbar vertebrae, the sacrum, and the coccyx.

Coronal Suture

The suture between the parietal and frontal bones of the skull.

Coccyx

The tail bone. The tail bone or coccyx is a group of several small, fused vertebrae that are not individually numbered.

Lumbar Vertebra

The vertebrae that supports the weight of the entire upper body.

Temporal Bones

Bones that form the lower sides of the cranium.

Parietal Bones

Bones that form the upper sides and posterior parts of the cranium. Between these bones is the sagittal suture, which runs from front to back.

Cervical Vertebrae: C1-C7

C1 through C7 vertebrae's of the neck.

What is the other name for collar bone?

Clavicle

Sternum or Breast Bone

Is in the center of the anterior thorax. It consists of the triangular-shaped manubrium, the body of the sternum, and inferior tip or xiphoid process; sternum; breast bone.

Cranial Cavity

Structure which lies within the cranium and contains the brain and other structures.

What is the medical term for the shin bone?

Tibia

Lumbar Vertebrae

Vertebrae L1 through L5, that are in the lower back. The lumbar vertebrae are larger than the cervical or thoracic vertebrae because they are designed to bear the weight of the head, neck, and trunk of the body.

Thoracic Vertebrae

Vertebrae's T1 through T12 which are located in the chest. Each thoracic vertebra joins with one pair of the 12 pairs of ribs.