For those who have bone practicals coming up, here's a few tips and tricks that helped me for my bone practical. Of course, always make sure to study by going to a study hall that (hopefully) has bones that you can borrow while you're there and study with.

• Words and Vocabulary:

  • anterior = front
  • posterior = back
  • lateral = away from the middle
  • medial = towards the middle
  • supra = above
  • infra = below
  • epi = above
  • -cyte = mature cells
  • -blast = immature cells
  • foramen = big holes
  • foramina = small holes
  • process = pointy things that sticks out
  • condyles and epicondyles = small bumps * epicondyle = raised boney area above condyle
  • fissure = slits
  • fossa = shallow depression
  • notch = cavity within the bone
  • sinus = cavity within a bone
  • head = knob-like projection for joint
  • facet = flat projection on joint
  • tubercle = small, rounded projection
  • tuberosity = large, rounded projection

• The Skeleton:

  • Axial Skeleton = head + spine
  • Appendicular Skeleton = everything else.

• In the eye socket:

  • Ethmoid = behind the eye sockets.
  • Lacrimal = closer to the tearduct, next to the ethmoid.

• Cranium:

  • Sutures * Coronal suture (front), Sagittal suture (divides parietal bones bones — think of it as the arrow that's getting shot at the coronal suture), Lambdoid suture (the back — the sting of the bow).
  • Fetal Fontanelles * Anterior Fontanelles = at the top of the skull, near the front. * Posterior Fontanelles = in the back near the lambdoid suture.

• The vertebral column:

  • Cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacrum, coccyx
  • There are 7 cervical bones, 12 thoracic bones, and 5 lumbar bones. * A good way to remember how many bones? “Breakfast at 7, lunch at 12, and dinner at 5” OR “7 cats chased after 12 turtles only to run into 5 lions.”
  • C1 = Atlas * The Atlas has the superior articular facet which articulates with the occipital bone on the skull.
  • C2 = Axis * The Axis has the dens which is the pointy projection that points upwards.
  • Pedicle vs Lamina * pedicle = closer to the body * lamina = closer to the spinous process

• Humerus, radius (lateral), ulna (medial):

  • Henry ran under.

• Hand:

  • Carpals, metacarpals, phalanges. * Cats Munched on Paper.
  • Scaphoid, Lunate, Triquetral, Pisiform, Trapezium, Trapezoid, Capitate and Hamate * “Some lovers try positions that they can't handle.”

• Leg

  • Femur = big bone
  • Patella = knee cap
  • Tibia = medial bone beneath femur, medium size. you know you're looking at the anterior side when you see the anterior crest.
  • Fibula = lateral bone beneath femur

• Foot:

  • Tarsals, metatarsals, phalanges
  • Calcaneous = heel
  • Talus = articulates with tibia (at the medial malleolus) and fibula (at the lateral malleolus)
  • Navicular = rectangular bone between talus and cuneiforms
  • Cuboid = cube like bone on the lateral side
  • Cuneiforms = three smaller bones on the medial side, above navicular

• Apps:

  • Complete Anatomy = Email customer service with your student email address and ask them about discounts for students. The student discount is 50%, so make sure to take the opportunity!

#anatomyandphysiology