acetabulum

Rounded depression, or socket, in the pelvis that joins the femur (thigh bone), forming the hip joint.

acromion

Outward extension of the shoulder blade forming the point of the shoulder. It overlies the shoulder joint and articulates with the clavicle.

Articular cartilage bone

Thin layer of cartilage covering the bone in the joint space.

Bone Depression

Opening or hollow region serving as a connection for bones, or passgeways for blood vessels and nerves. Examples: fissure, foramen, fossa, and sinus.

Bone process

Enlarged area that extends from the bone as an attachment for muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Examples: bone head, condyle, epicondyle, trochanter, tubercle, and truberosity.

calcium

One of the mineral constituents of bone. Calcium phosphate is the major calcium salt in bones.

Cancellous bone

Spongy, porous, bone tissue in the inner part of the bone.

Cartilage

Flexible, rubbery connective tissue. It is found in the immature skeleton, at the epiphyseal growth plate, and on joint surfaces.

Collagen

Dense, connective tissue protein strands found in bone and other tissues.

Compact bone

Hard, dense bone tissue, usually found around the outer portion of bones.

Cranial bone

Skull bones: ethmoid, frontal, occipital, parietal, sphenoid, and temporal.

Diaphysis

Shaft, or mid-portion, of a long bone.

Disk (disc)

Flat, round, plate-like structure. An intervertebral disk is a fibrocartilaginous substance between two vertebrae.

Epiphyseal plate

Cartilaginous area at the end of long bones where lengthwise growth takes place in the immature skeleton.

Epiphysis

Each end of a long bone; the area beyond the epiphyseal plate.

Facial bones

Bones of the face: lacrimal, mandibular, maxillary, nasal, vomer and zygomatic.

Fontanelle

Soft spot (incomplete bone formation) between the skull bones of an infant.

Foramen magnum

Opening of the occipital bone through which the spinal cord passes.

Haversian canals

Minute spaces filled with blood vessels; found in compact bone.

Ligament

Fibrous tissue connecting bones to other bones.

Malleolus

Round process on both sides of the ankle joint. The lateral malleolus is part of the fibula, and the medial malleolus is part of the tibia.

Manubrium

Upper portion of the sternum; articulates with the medial aspect of the clavicle.

Mastoid process

Round projection on the temporal bone behind the ear.

Medullary cavity

Central, hollowed-out area in the shaft of a long bone.

Metaphysis

Flared portion of a long bone, between the diaphysis (shaft) and the epiphyseal plate.

Olecranon

Large process on the proximal end of the ulna; the point of the flexed elbow.

Orthopedist

Medical doctor who specializes in bone, joint, and muscle conditions.

Osseous tissue

Bone tissue.

Ossification

Process of bone formation.

Osteoblast

Bone cell that helps form bony tissue.

Osteoclast

Bone cell that absorbs and removes unwanted bony tissue.

Periosteum

Membrane surrounding bones; rich in blood vessels and nerve tissue.

Phosphorus

Mineral substance found in bones in combination with calcium.

Physiatrist

Medical doctor specializing in rehabilitation.

Pubic symphysis

Area of confluence (coming together) of the two pubic bones in the pelvis. They are joined by a fibrocartilaginous disk.

Red bone marrow

Found in cancellous bone; scite of hematopoiesis.

Ribs

12 pairs of curved bones that form the chest wall.

True ribs are first 7 pairs.

False ribs are pairs 8-10.

Floating ribs are pairs 11and 12.

Sella turcica

Depression in the sphenoid bone where the pituitary gland is located.

Sinus

Hollow air cavity within a bone.

Styloid process

Pole-like process extending downward from the temporal bone on each side of the skull.

Suture

Immovable joint between bones, such as the skull (cranium).

Temporomandibualar joint

Connection on either side of the head between the temporal bone of the skull and the mandibular bone of the jaw.

Tendon

Fibrous connective tissue connecting muscles and bones.

Trabeculae

Supporting bundles of bony fibers in cancellous (spongy) bone.

Vertebra

Individual segment of the spine composed of the vertebral body. vertebral arch, spinous process, transverse process, and lamina enclosing the neural canal.

Xiphoid process

Lower, narrow prtion of the sternum.

Yellow bone marrow

Fatty tissue found in the medullary cavity of most adult long bones.