1.

Basic Terminology For Osteology The following list covers many of the terms that you will come across as you study osteology. An understanding of these terms prior to entering the lab should make your study time more efficient and effective. (1) Foramen a hole (ex; foramen magnum). (2) Fissure - a long narrow, opening in a bone (ex; superior orbital fissure). (3) Meatus - meaning canal this is a canal-like opening in a bone (ex; external acoustic meatus). Often the term canal can be used interchangeably with meatus. (4) Fossa - a depression on the surface of a bone (ex; anterior cranial fossa). (5) Fovea - a pit in the surface of a bone (ex; fovea capitis). (6) Sulcus - a groove on the surface of a bone (ex; lacrimal sulcus). Often the term groove can be used interchangeably with sulcus. (7) Tubercle - a rounded elevation on a bone (ex; pubic tubercle). (8) Tuberosity -a roughened elevation on the surface of a bone (ex; ischial tuberosity). In certain cases the terms tubercle and tuberosity may be used interchangeably. (9) Line - a line on the surface of a bone, a shallow linear elevation on the surface of a bone (ex; soleal line). (10) Crest - a linear elevation on the surface of a bone (ex; intertrochanteric crest). A crest will be a higher linear elevation than is a line. (11) Process - an extension of a bone (ex; zygomatic process of the temporal bone) If a process attaches to another bone it will be named for the bone to which it articulates (ex; temporal process of the zygomatic bone).. (12) Condyle - a flared extension on a long bone that allows for better articulation (ex; medial condyle of femur). Condyles allow for direct bone to bone attachment. They greatly increase the surface area for an articulation adding to the strength and stability of a joint. (13) Condyloid - a condyle-like structure found on a bone that is not a long bone (ex; condyloid process of the mandible). (14) Epicondyle - an elevation situated on a condyle (ex; medial epicondyle of the femur). They allow for indirect bone to bone attachment (by serving as the anchoring point for ligaments) and for muscle attachment. (15) Coronoid - a wave-like extension of a bone (ex; coronoid process of the ulna). (16) Coracoid - meaning crows beak this is an extension of a bone that resemble the bill of a crow (ex; coracoid process of the scapula). (17) Maleolus - a flattened projection (ex; medial maleolus of tibia). (18) Ramus - a bridge-like structure (ex; superior pubic ramus). (19) Ala - a wing shaped surface of a bone (ex; ala of sacrum). (20) Facet - means an articulating surface (ex; superior articulating facet of vertebra). The terms facet and articulating surface can be used interchangeably. (21) Demifacet - half of an articulating surface (ex; demifacet on body of a thoracic vertebra). (22) Cornu - meaning horn, it is a horn-like extension off of a bone (ex; sacral cornu) 2. Directional Terminology Directional terminology will also be invaluable to you in your studies. You will notice directional terms being used quite a bit in the naming of anatomical structures beginning with osteological features. One study method which may speed up your learning of these terms is to consider them in opposite pairs (ex: superior vs. inferior). In directional terminology we are referring to the structures position in a body in the anatomical position and relative to another structure. (1) Superior - to be above another structure. (Ex; the head is superior to the neck.) (2) Inferior - to be below another structure. (Ex; the neck is inferior to the head.) (3) Anterior - to be in front of another structure. (Ex; the incisors are anterior to the canines.) (4) Posterior - to be behind another structure. (Ex; the canines are posterior to the incisors.) (5) Medial - to be along the midline axis of the body. (Ex; the nose is medial relative to the eyes.) (6) Lateral - to be away from the midline of the body. (Ex; the eyes are lateral relative to the nose.) (7) Proximal - to be closer to the main axis of the body. (Ex; the shoulder is proximal relative to the wrist.) (8) Distal - to be at a distance from, to be further from, the main axis of the body. (Ex; the wrist is distal relative to the shoulder.)

(9) Intermediate - to be between two structures, either between distal and proximal structures or between lateral and medial structures. The term middle can be used for intermediate but middle and medial are not equivalent terms. (Ex; your finger has three bones called phalanx bones. The one closest to your knuckle is the proximal phalanx. The one that your fingernail is on is the distal phalanx. The one between is intermediate, or middle, phalanx.) (10) Deep - to be further from the surface of the body than is another structure, to be beneath another structure. (ex; the ribs are deep to the pectoralis major.) (11) Superficial - to be closer to the surface of the body than is another structure. (Ex; the pectoralis major is superficial to the ribs.) (12) Cranial/Cephalad - to mean specifically towards the head. (13) Caudal - to mean specifically towards the tail.