Chapter 6 – Key Terms
acetabulum large, cup-shaped cavity located on the lateral side of the hip bone; formed by the junction of the ilium, pubis, and ischium portions of the hip bone
acromial end of the clavicle lateral end of the clavicle that articulates with the acromion of the scapula
acromial process acromion of the scapula
acromioclavicular joint articulation between the acromion of the scapula and the acromial end of the clavicle
acromion flattened bony process that extends laterally from the scapular spine to form the bony tip of the shoulder
adductor tubercle small, bony bump located on the superior aspect of the medial epicondyle of the femur
anatomical neck line on the humerus located around the outside margin of the humeral head
ankle joint joint that separates the leg and foot portions of the lower limb; formed by the articulations between the talus bone of the foot inferiorly, and the distal end of the tibia, medial malleolus of the tibia, and lateral malleolus of the fibula superiorly
anterior border of the tibia narrow, anterior margin of the tibia that extends inferiorly from the tibial tuberosity
anterior inferior iliac spine small, bony projection located on the anterior margin of the ilium, below the anterior superior iliac spine
anterior superior iliac spine rounded, anterior end of the iliac crest
arm region of the upper limb located between the shoulder and elbow joints; contains the humerus bone
auricular surface of the ilium roughened area located on the posterior, medial side of the ilium of the hip bone; articulates with the auricular surface of the sacrum to form the sacroiliac joint
base of the metatarsal bone expanded, proximal end of each metatarsal bone
bicipital groove intertubercular groove; narrow groove located between the greater and lesser tubercles of the humerus
calcaneus heel bone; posterior, inferior tarsal bone that forms the heel of the foot
capitate from the lateral side, the third of the four distal carpal bones; articulates with the scaphoid and lunate proximally, the trapezoid laterally, the hamate medially, and primarily with the third metacarpal distally
capitulum knob-like bony structure located anteriorly on the lateral, distal end of the humerus
carpal bone one of the eight small bones that form the wrist and base of the hand; these are grouped as a proximal row consisting of (from lateral to medial) the scaphoid, lunate, triquetrum, and pisiform bones, and a distal row containing (from lateral to medial) the trapezium, trapezoid, capitate, and hamate bones
carpal tunnel passageway between the anterior forearm and hand formed by the carpal bones and flexor retinaculum
carpometacarpal joint articulation between one of the carpal bones in the distal row and a metacarpal bone of the hand
clavicle collarbone; elongated bone that articulates with the manubrium of the sternum medially and the acromion of the scapula laterally
coracoclavicular ligament strong band of connective tissue that anchors the coracoid process of the scapula to the lateral clavicle; provides important indirect support for the acromioclavicular joint
coracoid process short, hook-like process that projects anteriorly and laterally from the superior margin of the scapula
coronoid fossa depression on the anterior surface of the humerus above the trochlea; this space receives the coronoid process of the ulna when the elbow is maximally flexed
coronoid process of the ulna projecting bony lip located on the anterior, proximal ulna; forms the inferior margin of the trochlear notch
costoclavicular ligament band of connective tissue that unites the medial clavicle with the first rib
coxal bone hip bone
cuboid tarsal bone that articulates posteriorly with the calcaneus bone, medially with the lateral cuneiform bone, and anteriorly with the fourth and fifth metatarsal bones
deltoid tuberosity roughened, V-shaped region located laterally on the mid-shaft of the humerus
distal radioulnar joint articulation between the head of the ulna and the ulnar notch of the radius
distal tibiofibular joint articulation between the distal fibula and the fibular notch of the tibia
elbow joint joint located between the upper arm and forearm regions of the upper limb; formed by the articulations between the trochlea of the humerus and the trochlear notch of the ulna, and the capitulum of the humerus and the head of the radius
femur thigh bone; the single bone of the thigh
fibula thin, non-weight-bearing bone found on the lateral side of the leg
fibular notch wide groove on the lateral side of the distal tibia for articulation with the fibula at the distal tibiofibular joint
flexor retinaculum strong band of connective tissue at the anterior wrist that spans the top of the U-shaped grouping of the carpal bones to form the roof of the carpal tunnel
foot portion of the lower limb located distal to the ankle joint
forearm region of the upper limb located between the elbow and wrist joints; contains the radius and ulna bones
fossa (plural = fossae) shallow depression on the surface of a bone
fovea capitis minor indentation on the head of the femur that serves as the site of attachment for the ligament to the head of the femur
glenohumeral joint shoulder joint; formed by the articulation between the glenoid cavity of the scapula and the head of the humerus
glenoid cavity (also, glenoid fossa) shallow depression located on the lateral scapula, between the superior and lateral borders
gluteal tuberosity roughened area on the posterior side of the proximal femur, extending inferiorly from the base of the greater trochanter
greater pelvis (also, greater pelvic cavity or false pelvis) broad space above the pelvic brim defined laterally by the fan-like portion of the upper ilium
greater sciatic notch large, U-shaped indentation located on the posterior margin of the ilium, superior to the ischial spine
greater trochanter large, bony expansion of the femur that projects superiorly from the base of the femoral neck
greater tubercle enlarged prominence located on the lateral side of the proximal humerus
hallux big toe; digit 1 of the foot
hamate from the lateral side, the fourth of the four distal carpal bones; articulates with the lunate and triquetrum proximally, the fourth and fifth metacarpals distally, and the capitate laterally
hand region of the upper limb distal to the wrist joint
head of the femur rounded, proximal end of the femur that articulates with the acetabulum of the hip bone to form the hip joint
head of the fibula small, knob-like, proximal end of the fibula; articulates with the inferior aspect of the lateral condyle of the tibia
head of the humerus smooth, rounded region on the medial side of the proximal humerus; articulates with the glenoid fossa of the scapula to form the glenohumeral (shoulder) joint
head of the metatarsal bone expanded, distal end of each metatarsal bone
head of the radius disc-shaped structure that forms the proximal end of the radius; articulates with the capitulum of the humerus as part of the elbow joint, and with the radial notch of the ulna as part of the proximal radioulnar joint
head of the ulna small, rounded distal end of the ulna; articulates with the ulnar notch of the distal radius, forming the distal radioulnar joint
hip joint joint located at the proximal end of the lower limb; formed by the articulation between the acetabulum of the hip bone and the head of the femur
hook of the hamate bone bony extension located on the anterior side of the hamate carpal bone
humerus single bone of the upper arm
iliac crest curved, superior margin of the ilium
iliac fossa shallow depression found on the anterior and medial surfaces of the upper ilium
ilium superior portion of the hip bone
inferior angle of the scapula inferior corner of the scapula located where the medial and lateral borders meet
inferior pubic ramus narrow segment of bone that passes inferiorly and laterally from the pubic body
infraglenoid tubercle small bump or roughened area located on the lateral border of the scapula, near the inferior margin of the glenoid cavity
infraspinous fossa broad depression located on the posterior scapula, inferior to the spine
intercondylar eminence irregular elevation on the superior end of the tibia, between the articulating surfaces of the medial and lateral condyles
intercondylar fossa deep depression on the posterior side of the distal femur that separates the medial and lateral condyles
intermediate cuneiform middle of the three cuneiform tarsal bones; articulates posteriorly with the navicular bone, medially with the medial cuneiform bone, laterally with the lateral cuneiform bone, and anteriorly with the second metatarsal bone
interosseous border of the fibula small ridge running down the medial side of the fibular shaft; for attachment of the interosseous membrane between the fibula and tibia
interosseous border of the radius narrow ridge located on the medial side of the radial shaft; for attachment of the interosseous membrane between the ulna and radius bones
interosseous border of the tibia small ridge running down the lateral side of the tibial shaft; for attachment of the interosseous membrane between the tibia and fibula
interosseous border of the ulna narrow ridge located on the lateral side of the ulnar shaft; for attachment of the interosseous membrane between the ulna and radius
interosseous membrane of the forearm sheet of dense connective tissue that unites the radius and ulna bones
interosseous membrane of the leg sheet of dense connective tissue that unites the shafts of the tibia and fibula bones
interphalangeal joint articulation between adjacent phalanx bones of the hand or foot digits
intertrochanteric crest short, prominent ridge running between the greater and lesser trochanters on the posterior side of the proximal femur
intertrochanteric line small ridge running between the greater and lesser trochanters on the anterior side of the proximal femur
intertubercular groove (sulcus) bicipital groove; narrow groove located between the greater and lesser tubercles of the humerus
ischial ramus bony extension projecting anteriorly and superiorly from the ischial tuberosity
ischial spine pointed, bony projection from the posterior margin of the ischium that separates the greater sciatic notch and lesser sciatic notch
ischial tuberosity large, roughened protuberance that forms the posteroinferior portion of the hip bone; weight-bearing region of the pelvis when sitting
ischium posteroinferior portion of the hip bone
knee joint joint that separates the thigh and leg portions of the lower limb; formed by the articulations between the medial and lateral condyles of the femur, and the medial and lateral condyles of the tibia
lateral border of the scapula diagonally oriented lateral margin of the scapula
lateral condyle of the femur smooth, articulating surface that forms the distal and posterior sides of the lateral expansion of the distal femur
lateral condyle of the tibia lateral, expanded region of the proximal tibia that includes the smooth surface that articulates with the lateral condyle of the femur as part of the knee joint
lateral cuneiform most lateral of the three cuneiform tarsal bones; articulates posteriorly with the navicular bone, medially with the intermediate cuneiform bone, laterally with the cuboid bone, and anteriorly with the third metatarsal bone
lateral epicondyle of the femur roughened area of the femur located on the lateral side of the lateral condyle
lateral epicondyle of the humerus small projection located on the lateral side of the distal humerus
lateral malleolus expanded distal end of the fibula
lateral supracondylar ridge narrow, bony ridge located along the lateral side of the distal humerus, superior to the lateral epicondyle
leg portion of the lower limb located between the knee and ankle joints
lesser pelvis (also, lesser pelvic cavity or true pelvis) narrow space located within the pelvis, defined superiorly by the pelvic brim (pelvic inlet) and inferiorly by the pelvic outlet
lesser sciatic notch shallow indentation along the posterior margin of the ischium, inferior to the ischial spine
lesser trochanter small, bony projection on the medial side of the proximal femur, at the base of the femoral neck
lesser tubercle small, bony prominence located on anterior side of the proximal humerus
ligament of the head of the femur ligament that spans the acetabulum of the hip bone and the fovea capitis of the femoral head
linea aspera longitudinally running bony ridge located in the middle third of the posterior femur
lunate from the lateral side, the second of the four proximal carpal bones; articulates with the radius proximally, the capitate and hamate distally, the scaphoid laterally, and the triquetrum medially
medial border of the scapula elongated, medial margin of the scapula
medial condyle of the femur smooth, articulating surface that forms the distal and posterior sides of the medial expansion of the distal femur
medial condyle of the tibia medial, expanded region of the proximal tibia that includes the smooth surface that articulates with the medial condyle of the femur as part of the knee joint
medial cuneiform most medial of the three cuneiform tarsal bones; articulates posteriorly with the navicular bone, laterally with the intermediate cuneiform bone, and anteriorly with the first and second metatarsal bones
medial epicondyle of the femur roughened area of the distal femur located on the medial side of the medial condyle
medial epicondyle of the humerus enlarged projection located on the medial side of the distal humerus
medial malleolus bony expansion located on the medial side of the distal tibia
metacarpal bone one of the five long bones that form the palm of the hand; numbered 1–5, starting on the lateral (thumb) side of the hand
metacarpophalangeal joint articulation between the distal end of a metacarpal bone of the hand and a proximal phalanx bone of the thumb or a finger
metatarsal bone one of the five elongated bones that forms the anterior half of the foot; numbered 1–5, starting on the medial side of the foot
metatarsophalangeal joint articulation between a metatarsal bone of the foot and the proximal phalanx bone of a toe
midcarpal joint articulation between the proximal and distal rows of the carpal bones; contributes to movements of the hand at the wrist
navicular tarsal bone that articulates posteriorly with the talus bone, laterally with the cuboid bone, and anteriorly with the medial, intermediate, and lateral cuneiform bones
neck of the femur narrowed region located inferior to the head of the femur
neck of the radius narrowed region immediately distal to the head of the radius
obturator foramen large opening located in the anterior hip bone, between the pubis and ischium regions
olecranon fossa large depression located on the posterior side of the distal humerus; this space receives the olecranon process of the ulna when the elbow is fully extended
olecranon process expanded posterior and superior portions of the proximal ulna; forms the bony tip of the elbow
patella kneecap; the largest sesamoid bone of the body; articulates with the distal femur
patellar surface smooth groove located on the anterior side of the distal femur, between the medial and lateral condyles; site of articulation for the patella
pectoral girdle shoulder girdle; the set of bones, consisting of the scapula and clavicle, which attaches each upper limb to the axial skeleton
pelvic brim pelvic inlet; the dividing line between the greater and lesser pelvic regions; formed by the superior margin of the pubic symphysis, the pectineal lines of each pubis, the arcuate lines of each ilium, and the sacral promontory
pelvic girdle hip girdle; consists of a single hip bone, which attaches a lower limb to the sacrum of the axial skeleton
pelvic inlet pelvic brim
pelvic outlet inferior opening of the lesser pelvis; formed by the inferior margin of the pubic symphysis, right and left ischiopubic rami and sacrotuberous ligaments, and the tip of the coccyx
pelvis ring of bone consisting of the right and left hip bones, the sacrum, and the coccyx
phalanx bone of the foot (plural = phalanges) one of the 14 bones that form the toes; these include the proximal and distal phalanges of the big toe, and the proximal, middle, and distal phalanx bones of toes two through five
phalanx bone of the hand (plural = phalanges) one of the 14 bones that form the thumb and fingers; these include the proximal and distal phalanges of the thumb, and the proximal, middle, and distal phalanx bones of the fingers two through five
pisiform from the lateral side, the fourth of the four proximal carpal bones; articulates with the anterior surface of the triquetrum
pollex (also, thumb) digit 1 of the hand
posterior inferior iliac spine small, bony projection located at the inferior margin of the auricular surface on the posterior ilium
posterior superior iliac spine rounded, posterior end of the iliac crest
proximal radioulnar joint articulation formed by the radial notch of the ulna and the head of the radius
proximal tibiofibular joint articulation between the head of the fibula and the inferior aspect of the lateral condyle of the tibia
pubic arch bony structure formed by the pubic symphysis, and the bodies and inferior pubic rami of the right and left pubic bones
pubic body enlarged, medial portion of the pubis region of the hip bone
pubic symphysis joint formed by the articulation between the pubic bodies of the right and left hip bones
pubic tubercle small bump located on the superior aspect of the pubic body
pubis anterior portion of the hip bone
radial fossa small depression located on the anterior humerus above the capitulum; this space receives the head of the radius when the elbow is maximally flexed
radial notch of the ulna small, smooth area on the lateral side of the proximal ulna; articulates with the head of the radius as part of the proximal radioulnar joint
radial tuberosity oval-shaped, roughened protuberance located on the medial side of the proximal radius
radiocarpal joint wrist joint, located between the forearm and hand regions of the upper limb; articulation formed proximally by the distal end of the radius and the fibrocartilaginous pad that unites the distal radius and ulna bone, and distally by the scaphoid, lunate, and triquetrum carpal bones
radius bone located on the lateral side of the forearm
sacroiliac joint joint formed by the articulation between the auricular surfaces of the sacrum and ilium
scaphoid from the lateral side, the first of the four proximal carpal bones; articulates with the radius proximally, the trapezoid, trapezium, and capitate distally, and the lunate medially
scapula shoulder blade bone located on the posterior side of the shoulder
shaft of the femur cylindrically shaped region that forms the central portion of the femur
shaft of the fibula elongated, slender portion located between the expanded ends of the fibula
shaft of the humerus narrow, elongated, central region of the humerus
shaft of the radius narrow, elongated, central region of the radius
shaft of the tibia triangular-shaped, central portion of the tibia
shaft of the ulna narrow, elongated, central region of the ulna
soleal line small, diagonally running ridge located on the posterior side of the proximal tibia
spine of the scapula prominent ridge passing mediolaterally across the upper portion of the posterior scapular surface
sternal end of the clavicle medial end of the clavicle that articulates with the manubrium of the sternum
sternoclavicular joint articulation between the manubrium of the sternum and the sternal end of the clavicle; forms the only bony attachment between the pectoral girdle of the upper limb and the axial skeleton
styloid process of the radius pointed projection located on the lateral end of the distal radius
styloid process of the ulna short, bony projection located on the medial end of the distal ulna
subscapular fossa broad depression located on the anterior (deep) surface of the scapula
superior angle of the scapula corner of the scapula between the superior and medial borders of the scapula
superior border of the scapula superior margin of the scapula
superior pubic ramus narrow segment of bone that passes laterally from the pubic body to join the ilium
supraglenoid tubercle small bump located at the superior margin of the glenoid cavity
suprascapular notch small notch located along the superior border of the scapula, medial to the coracoid process
supraspinous fossa narrow depression located on the posterior scapula, superior to the spine
surgical neck region of the humerus where the expanded, proximal end joins with the narrower shaft
sustentaculum tali bony ledge extending from the medial side of the calcaneus bone
talus tarsal bone that articulates superiorly with the tibia and fibula at the ankle joint; also articulates inferiorly with the calcaneus bone and anteriorly with the navicular bone
tarsal bone one of the seven bones that make up the posterior foot; includes the calcaneus, talus, navicular, cuboid, medial cuneiform, intermediate cuneiform, and lateral cuneiform bones
thigh portion of the lower limb located between the hip and knee joints
tibia shin bone; the large, weight-bearing bone located on the medial side of the leg
tibial tuberosity elevated area on the anterior surface of the proximal tibia
trapezium from the lateral side, the first of the four distal carpal bones; articulates with the scaphoid proximally, the first and second metacarpals distally, and the trapezoid medially
trapezoid from the lateral side, the second of the four distal carpal bones; articulates with the scaphoid proximally, the second metacarpal distally, the trapezium laterally, and the capitate medially
triquetrum from the lateral side, the third of the four proximal carpal bones; articulates with the lunate laterally, the hamate distally, and has a facet for the pisiform
trochlea pulley-shaped region located medially at the distal end of the humerus; articulates at the elbow with the trochlear notch of the ulna
trochlear notch large, C-shaped depression located on the anterior side of the proximal ulna; articulates at the elbow with the trochlea of the humerus
ulna bone located on the medial side of the forearm
ulnar notch of the radius shallow, smooth area located on the medial side of the distal radius; articulates with the head of the ulna at the distal radioulnar joint
ulnar tuberosity roughened area located on the anterior, proximal ulna inferior to the coronoid process