Axial vs. Appendicular
This division of the skeleton contains the skull, vertebral column, ribs, and sternum.
What is the axial skeleton?
This is the major bone of the upper arm.
What is the humerus?
This structure connects the lower limbs to the axial skeleton.
What is the pelvic girdle?
This is the longest and strongest bone in the human body.
What is the femur?
This skeletal structure surrounds and protects the brain.
What is the cranium?
These are the two major divisions of the human skeleton.
What are the axial skeleton and appendicular skeleton?
These two bones form the forearm.
What are the radius and ulna?
This cup-shaped socket of the pelvis receives the head of the femur.
What is the acetabulum?
This small bone is located in front of the knee joint and helps protect it.
What is the patella?
One important function of the ribs and sternum is to protect these vital organs.
What are the heart and lungs?
The scapula and clavicle belong to this division of the skeleton.
What is the appendicular skeleton?
These three groups of bones make up the wrist, palm, and fingers.
What are the carpals, metacarpals, and phalanges?
These three bones fuse together to form each coxal or hip bone.
What are the ilium, ischium, and pubis?
Of the tibia and fibula, this bone is larger, medial, and bears more body weight.
What is the tibia?
Why are the wrist and ankle made of several small carpals and tarsals rather than one large bone?
Multiple small bones provide flexibility, movement, and the ability to adjust to forces while maintaining stability.
Explain why the pelvic girdle is classified as part of the appendicular skeleton even though it connects with the axial skeleton.
The pelvic girdle is appendicular because it attaches the lower limbs to the axial skeleton and functions as part of the limb-support system.
This lower-limb bone is most similar in position to the humerus of the upper limb.
What is the femur?
The pelvic girdle is more stable and less mobile than the pectoral girdle primarily because it performs this important function.
What is supporting and transferring body weight to the lower limbs?
Put these structures in order from proximal to distal: phalanges, femur, tarsals, tibia, metatarsals.
Femur → Tibia → Tarsals → Metatarsals → Phalanges
Explain how the axial and appendicular skeletons work together when a person walks.
The axial skeleton provides support and maintains body position, while the pelvic girdle and lower limbs of the appendicular skeleton support body weight and produce movement.
A patient has fractures of the sternum, femur, and vertebral column. Classify each as axial or appendicular.
A patient fractures the humerus, radius, and ulna. Identify the region of the body affected and explain how these bones are arranged.
The upper limb is affected. The humerus forms the upper arm, while the radius and ulna form the forearm.
A patient damages the acetabulum. Which major joint would be directly affected, and why?
The hip joint would be affected because the head of the femur fits into the acetabulum to form the hip joint.
A soccer player receives a direct blow to the lateral side of the lower leg. Which bone is most likely injured, and what anatomical evidence supports your answer?
The fibula, because it is located on the lateral side of the lower leg.
A patient can stand normally but has difficulty rotating and moving the arm at the shoulder. Name two bones that should be examined and explain their relationship.
The scapula and humerus should be examined. The head of the humerus articulates with the scapula at the shoulder joint, allowing a wide range of upper-limb movement.