Name:_________________________________

________________________________
________________________________
Section:________________________________
Date:__________________________________

Skull

1. First, match the bone names in column B with the descriptions in column A (the items in
column B may be used more than once). Then, enumerate the bones in column B that are
cranial bones.

Column A Column B

____1. forehead bone A. Ethmoid

____2. Cheekbone B. Frontal
____3. lower jaw C. Hyoid
____4. bridge of nose D. Lacrimal
____5. posterior bones of the hard palate E. Mandible
____6. much of the lateral and superior cranium F. Maxilla
____7. most posterior part of cranium G. Nasal
____8. single, irregular, bat-shaped bone forming part of the cranial floor H. Occipital
____9. tiny bones bearing tear ducts I. Palatine
____10. anterior part of hard palate J. Parietal
____11. superior and middle nasal conchae formed from its projections K. Sphenoid
____12. site of mastoid process L. Temporal
____13. site of sella turcica M. Vomer
____14. site of cribriform plate N. Zygomatic
____15. site of mental foramen
____16. site of styloid processes
____,____ ,____ , and ____17. four bones containing paranasal sinuses
____18. condyles here articulate with the atlas
____19. foramen magnum contained here
____20. small U-shaped bone in neck, where many tongue muscles attach
____21. middle ear found here
____22. nasal septum
____23. bears an upward protrusion, the “cock’s comb,” or crista galli
____,____ 24. contain alveoli bearing teeth

List the cranial bones from column B.: _____________, _______________, _______________
_____________, _______________, _______________
2. Using choices from the lettered key, identify all bones (line with ball on end), sutures (line with
arrowhead on end), and bone markings provided with leader lines in the two diagrams below. Write
the letter/s on the spaces provided.

Key:

a. carotid canal n. jugular foramen aa. parietal bone

b. coronal suture o. lacrimal bone bb. sagittal suture
c. ethmoid bone p. mandible cc. sphenoid bone
d. external occipital protuberance q. Mandibular dd. styloid process
e. foramen lacerum r. mandibular symphysis ee. stylomastoid foramen
f. foramen magnum s. mastoid process ff. superior orbital fissure
g. foramen ovale t. Maxilla gg. supraorbital foramen
h. frontal bone u. mental foramen hh. temporal bone
i. glabella v. middle nasal concha of ethmoid
j. incisive w. nasal bone ii. vomer
k. inferior nasal concha x. occipital bone jj. zygomatic bone
l. inferior orbital fissure y. occipital condyle kk. zygomatic process of
m. infraorbital foramen z. palatine bone temporal bone
 1. _____ 10. _____ 19. _____ 28. _____ 37. _____
2. _____ 11. _____ 20. _____ 29. _____ 38. _____
3. _____ 12. _____ 21. _____ 30. _____ 39. _____
4. _____ 13. _____ 22. _____ 31. _____ 40. _____
5. _____ 14. _____ 23. _____ 32. _____ 41. _____
6. _____ 15. _____ 24. _____ 33. _____ 42. _____
7. _____ 16. _____ 25. _____ 34. _____ 43. _____
8. _____ 17. _____ 26. _____ 35. _____ 44. _____
9. _____ 18. _____ 27. _____ 36. _____ 45. _____

3. Define suture.________________________________________________________________

4. With one exception, the skull bones are joined by sutures. Name the exception.
______________________________________________________________________________

5. What bones are connected by the lambdoid suture? ________________________________

What bones are connected by the squamous suture? _______________________________
6. Name the eight bones of the cranium.
_________________ _________________ _________________ _________________
_________________ _________________ _________________ _________________

7. Give two possible functions of the sinuses.

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

8. What is the orbit?

______________________________________________________________________________

What bones contribute to the formation of the orbit? ______________, _________________

______________, ________________, _______________, _______________, ______________

9. Why can the sphenoid bone be called the keystone of the cranial floor?
______________________________________________________________________________

The Vertebral Column

10. The distinguishing characteristics of the vertebrae composing the vertebral column are
noted below. Correctly identify each described structure by choosing a response from the key.
Key: a. atlas d. coccyx f. sacrum
b. axis e. lumbar vertebra g. thoracic vertebra
c. cervical vertebra—typical

_____1. vertebral type containing foramina in the transverse processes, through which the
vertebral arteries ascend to reach the brain
_____2. dens here provides a pivot for rotation of the first cervical vertebra (C1)
_____3. transverse processes faceted for articulation with ribs; spinous process pointing
sharply downward
_____4. composite bone; articulates with the hip bone laterally
_____5. massive vertebrae; weight-sustaining
_____6. “tail bone”; vestigial fused vertebrae
_____7. supports the head; allows a rocking motion in conjunction with the occipital condyles
11. Using the key, correctly identify the vertebral parts/areas described below. (More than
one choice may apply in some cases.) Also use the key letters to correctly identify the
vertebral areas in the diagram.
Key: a. body d. pedicle g. transverse process
b. intervertebral foramina e. spinous process h. vertebral arch
c. lamina f. superior articular facet i. vertebral foramen
____1. cavity enclosing the nerve cord
____2. weight-bearing portion of the vertebra
____,____ 3. provide levers against which muscles pull
____,____ 4. provide an articulation point for the ribs
____5. openings providing for exit of spinal nerves
____,____ 6. structures that form an enclosure for the spinal cord

1. _____ 3. _____ 5. _____ 7. _____

2. _____ 4. _____ 6. _____ 8. _____

12. Describe how a spinal nerve exits from the vertebral column.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

13. Name two factors/structures that permit flexibility of the vertebral column.
___________________________ and _____________________

14. What kind of tissue composes the intervertebral discs?

_____________________________________________________________________________

15. What is a herniated disc?

______________________________________________________________________________
What problems might it cause?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

16. Which two spinal curvatures are obvious at birth? ______________ and _______________

Under what conditions do the secondary curvatures develop?

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

17. On this illustration of an articulated vertebral column, identify each curvature indicated
and label it as a primary or a secondary curvature. Also identify the structures provided with
leader lines, using the letters of the terms listed in the key below.
Key: a. atlas c. intervertebral disc e. two thoracic vertebrae g. vertebra
b. axis d. sacrum f. two lumbar vertebrae prominens
The Thoracic Cage

18. The major bony components of the thorax (excluding the vertebral column) are the
________________________________ and the _______________________________ .

19. Differentiate between a true rib and a false rib.

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Is a floating rib a true or a false rib?____________________

20. What is the general shape of the thoracic cage? ___________________________________

21. Using the terms in the key, identify the regions and landmarks of the bony thorax.
Key:
a. body 1. _____
b. clavicular notch 2. _____
c. costal cartilage 3. _____
d. false ribs 4. _____
e. floating ribs 5. _____
f. jugular notch 6. _____
g. manubrium 7. _____
h. sternal angle 8. _____
i. sternum 9. _____
j. true ribs 10 _____
k. xiphisternal joint 11. _____
l. xiphoid process 12. _____