The Axial Skeleton

The skeleton is subdivided into two major divisions—the axial skeleton and the appendicular skeleton. The axial skeleton forms the vertical, central …

The cranium (skull) is the skeletal structure of the head that supports the face and protects the brain. It is subdivided into the facial bones and the …

The superior view of the cranium shows the frontal and paired parietal bones. The frontal bone is the single bone that forms the forehead. At its anterior …

The lateral view of the cranium is dominated by temporal, sphenoid, and ethmoid bones. The temporal bone forms the lower lateral side of the skull. The …

The human skull is composed of several bones that come together to protect the brain and support the structures of the face. The junctions where these …

The hyoid bone is a small U-shaped bone located in the upper neck at the level of the inferior mandible, with its tips pointing posteriorly. It does not …

The auditory ossicles of the middle ear transmit sounds from the air as vibrations to the fluid-filled cochlea. The auditory ossicles consist of two …

The vertebral column or spine is a flexible column that supports the head, neck, and body and  allows for their movements. It also protects the …

A typical vertebra, with the exception of the sacrum and coccyx, consists of a body, a vertebral arch, and seven different projections termed processes. …

The thoracic or rib cage forms the body's thorax (chest) portion. Its primary function in the body is to protect vital organs in the thoracic cavity, …

Ribs are curved, flattened bones forming the thoracic cavity wall with the thoracic muscles. There are 12 pairs of thoracic ribs. The posterior ends of …