•     Part of the axial skeleton; strong, flexible rod
      Supports the head
      Gives base to the ribs
      Encloses the spinal cord
      
  o    Vertebrae
      Consists of 34 bones composing the spinal column
  •    Cervical-7 bones
  •    Thoracic-12 bones
  •    Lumbar-5 bones
  •    Sacral- 5 bones.
  •    Coccygeal-4 to 5 bones

      In the adult the vertebrae of the sacral and coccygeal regions are united into two bones, the sacrum and me coccyx
      
  o    Curvatures-from a lateraI view there are four curves, alternately convex and concave ventrally
      Two convex curves are the cervical and lumbar
      Two concave curves are the thoracic and sacral

  o    Vertebra morphology

      Each vertebra differs in size and shape hut has similar components
      Body-central mass of bone
  •    Weight bearing
  •    Fonns anterior part of the vertebra
  •    Encloses the vertebral foramen
      Pedicles of the arch-two thick columns that extend backward from the body to meet with the laminae of the neural arch 

•     Process (7)
  •    One spinous, two transverse, two superior articular, and two inferior articular
  o    Spinous process extends backward from the point of the union of thetwo laminae
  o    Transverse processes project laterally at either side from the junction of the lamina and the pedicle
  o    Articular processes arise near the junction of the pedicle and the lamina- superior processes project upward:inferior processes project downward
  •    Surfaces of the processes are smooth

  o    Inferior articular processes of the vertebra fit into the superior articular processes below
  o    Form true joints, but the contacts established serve to restrict movement

  Distinguishing features

  Cervical region- triangular shape

  •    All have foramina in the transverse process upper six transmit the vertebral artery
  •    Spinous processes are short
      o    C3 to C5 are bifurcated
      o    C7 is long-prominence felt at the back of the neck
  •    Have small bodies (except for C1 vertebra)
  •    C1 vertebra (atlas)
  o    No body
  o    Anterior and posterior arch and two lateral masses
  o    Superiorarticular processes articulate with the condyles of the occipital bone
  •    C2 vertebra (axis)-process on the upper surface of the body (dens) forms a pivot about which the axis rotates

  Thoracic region

  •    Presence of facets for articulation with the ribs (distinguishing feature)
  •    Processes are larger and heavier than those of the cervical region
  •    Spinous process is directed downward at a sharp angle
  •    Circular vertebral foramen

   Lumbar region
   
  •    Large and heavy bodies
  •    Four transverse lines separate the bodies of the vertebrae on the pelvic surface
  •    Triangular shape-fitted between the  halves of the pelvis
  •    Four pairs of dorsal sacral foramina communicate with four pairs of pelvic sacral foramina

  Sacral vertebrae 
  •    Five (sometimes six) vertebrae are fused in the adult to form the sacrum
  •    The sacrum articulates above with L5, laterally with the hip bones, and inferiorly with the coccyx.
  •    It has a roughly triangular appearance with a pelvic and dorsal surface, a lateral mass on each side, and a base and apex.
  •    An anesthetic for the spinal nerves may be injected extradurally through the sacral hiatus (caudal analgesia)
  •    The sacral canal (which contains the dura, cauda equina, and filum terminale) extends from the base to the sacral hiatus. 
  •    The apex of the sacrum may be fused with the coccyx.

  
  Coccygeal vertebrae

  •    Four to five modular pieces fused together
  •    Triangular shape with the base above and the apex below

  F Defects

  •    Lordosis-exaggerated lumbar concavity
  •    Scoliosis-lateral curvature of any region
  •    Kyphosis-exaggerated convexity in the thoracic region

Gross Features of the Tongue

• The dorsum of the tongue is divided by a V-shaped sulcus terminalis into anterior oral (presulcal) and posterior pharyngeal (postsulcal) parts.
• The apex of the V is posterior and the two limbs diverge anteriorly.
• The oral part forms about 2/3 of the tongue and the pharyngeal part forms about 1/3.

Oral Part of the Tongue

• This part is freely movable, but it is loosely attached to the floor of the mouth by the lingual frenulum.

• On each side of the frenulum is a deep lingual vein, visible as a blue line.
• It begins at the tip of the tongue and runs posteriorly.
• All the veins on one side of the tongue unite at the posterior border of the hyoglossus muscle to form the lingual vein, which joins the facial vein or the internal jugular vein.

• On the dorsum of the oral part of the tongue is a median groove.
• This groove represents the site of fusion of the distal tongue buds during embryonic development.

The Lingual Papillae and Taste Buds

• The filiform papillae (L. filum, thread) are numerous, rough, and thread-like.
• They are arranged in rows parallel to the sulcus terminalis.

• The fungiform papillae are small and mushroom-shaped.
• They usually appear are pink or red spots.

• The vallate (circumvallate) papillae are surrounded by a deep, circular trench (trough), the walls of which are studded with taste buds.

• The foliate papillae are small lateral folds of lingual mucosa that are poorly formed in humans.

• The vallate, foliate and most of the fungiform papillae contain taste receptors, which are located in the taste buds.

The Pharyngeal Part of the Tongue

• This part lies posterior to the sulcus terminalis and palatoglossal arches.
• Its mucous membrane has no papillae.

• The underlying nodules of lymphoid tissue give this part of the tongue a cobblestone appearance.
• The lymphoid nodules (lingual follicles) are collectively known as the lingual tonsil.

The Frontalis Muscle

• The frontalis muscle is part of the scalp muscle called the occipitalfrontalis.
• The frontalis elevates the forehead, giving the face a surprised look, and produces transverse wrinkles in the forehead when one frowns.

• Skull 
  Cranium
  o    Superior portion formed by the frontal. parietal, and occipital bones
  o    Lateral portions formed by the temporal and sphenoid bones
  o    Cranial base formed by the temporal. sphenoid, and ethmoid bones
  o    Fontanels-soft spots in which ossification is incomplete at birth

  Frontal bone
  o    Forms the forehead
  o    Contains the frontal sinuses
  o    Forms the roof of the orbits
  o    Union with the parietal bones forms the coronal suture

  Parietal bones
  o    Union with the occipital bone forms the lambdoid suture
  o    Union with the temporal bone forms the squamous suture
  o    Union with the sphenoid bone forms the coronal suture

  Temporal bones
  o    Contains the external auditory meatus and middle and inner ear structures
  o    Squamous portion-above the meatus: zygomatic process-articulates with the zygoma
  o    to form the zygomatic arch 

  •    Petrous portion
  o    Contains organs of hearing and equilibrium 
  o    Prominent elevation on the floor of the cranium

  •    Mastoid portion
  o    Protuberance behind the ear

  o    Mastoid process
  •    Glenoid fossa-articulates with the condyle on the mandible
  •    Styloid process-anterior to the mastoid process; several neck muscles attach here
  •    Stylomastoid foramen-located between the styloid and mastoid processes; facial nerve emerges through this opening
  •    Jugular foramen-located between the petrous portion and the occipital bone: cranial nerves IX. X, and XI exit
   

The Lateral Wall of the Orbit

• This wall is thick, particularly its posterior part, which separates the orbit from the middle cranial fossa.
• The lateral wall is formed by the frontal process of the zygomatic bone and the greater wing of the sphenoid bone.

• Anteriorly, the lateral wall lies between the orbit and the temporal fossa.

• The lateral wall is partially separated from the roof by the superior orbital fissure.

The Skeleton of the Nose

• The immovable bridge of the nose, the superior bony part of the nose, consists of the nasal bones, the frontal processes of the maxillae, and the nasal part of the frontal bones.

• The movable cartilaginous part consists of five main cartilages and a few smaller ones.
• The U-shaped alar nasal cartilages are free and movable.
• They dilate and constrict the external nares when the muscles acting on the external nose contract.

The Nasal Cavities

• The nasal cavities are entered through the anterior nares or nostrils.
• They open into the nasopharynx through the choanae.

The Roof and Floor of the Nasal Cavity

• The roof is curved and narrow, except at the posterior end.

• The floor is wider than the roof.
• It is formed from the palatine process of the maxilla and the horizontal plate of the palatine bone.

The Walls of the Nasal Cavity

• The medial wall is formed by the nasal septum; it is usually smooth.

• The lateral wall is uneven owing to the three longitudinal, scroll-shaped elevations, called the conchae (L. shells) or turbinates (L. shaped like a top).
• These elevations are called the superior, middle and inferior conchae according to their position.

• The superior and middle conchae are parts of the ethmoid bone, whereas the inferior conchae are separate bones.

• The inferior and middle conchae project medially and inferiorly, producing air passageways called the inferior and middle meatus (L. passage). Note: the plural of "meatus" is the same as the singular.
• The short superior conchae conceal the superior meatus.
• The space posterosuperior to the superior concha is called the sphenoethmoidal recess.