Chapter 8:

The Appendicular Skeleton

The Appendicular Skeleton

Allows us to move and manipulate objects
Includes all bones besides axial skeleton:
the limbs
the supportive girdles

The Pectoral Girdle

Also called the shoulder
girdle
Connects the arms to the
body
Positions the shoulders
Provides a base for arm
movement
Consists of:
2 clavicles
2 scapulae
Connects with the axial skeleton only at the
manubrium
Figure 82a

The Clavicles

Also called collarbones

Long, S-shaped bones
Originate at the manubrium (sternal end)
Articulate with the scapulae (acromial end)

Figure 82b, c

The Scapulae
Also called shoulder blades
Broad, flat triangles
Articulate with arm and
collarbone
Anterior surface-subscapular fossa
Structures
Body
Sides
superior border
medial border (vertebral border)
lateral border (axillary border)

Corners

superior angle
inferior angle
lateral angle

 Head
Holds glenoid cavity
Which articulates with humerus to form shoulder joint

Coracoid process-anterior, smaller

Acromion-posterior, larger

 Scapular spine:
ridge across posterior surface of body
Separates 2 regions:
supraspinous fossa
infraspinous fossa

The Upper Limbs

arms, forearms, wrists, & hands

Humerus-arm
The long, upper armbone
Articulates with the pelvic girdle
Structures
Proximal Epiphysis
separated by intertubercular
groove:
greater tubercle:
lateral
forms tip of shoulder
lesser tubercle:
anterior, medial

 Head:
rounded, articulating surface
contained within joint capsule

Neck:
Anatomical neck- margin of joint
capsule
Surgical neck: the narrow
metaphysis

Shaft
Deltoid tuberosity:
a bulge in the shaft
attaches deltoid muscle

Radial groove:
for radial nerve
posterior to deltoid tuberosity

 Distal Epiphysis
Medial and lateral epicondyles:
for muscle attachment

Condyle of the humerus:

Trochlea:
coronoid fossa & olecranon fossa
articulates with ulna
Capitulum:
radial fossa
articulates with radius

 With radius
articulates with head of
radius
forms proximal
radioulnar joint

Ulnar head:
prominent styloid
process
attaches forearm to
wrist

The Forearm-antebrachium
Consists of 2 long bones: ulna & radius

Ulna

Articulations
With humerus
Forearm extended:
olecranon (elbow
point) enters
olecranon fossa
Forearm flexed:
coronoid process
enters coronoid fossa

Radius
Articulations
Ulnar notch:
distal end
articulates w/ wrist & radius

Styloid process:
stabilizes wrist joint

Wrist

8 carpal bones:
allow wrist to bend and twist
4 proximal carpal bones
Scaphoid bone: near styloid process
Lunate bone: medial to scaphoid
Triquetrum: medial to lunate bone
Pisiform bone: anterior to triquetrum

4 distal carpal bones

Trapezium: lateral
Trapezoid bone: medial to trapezium
Capitate bone: largest
Hamate bone: medial, distal

Hands
5 Metacarpal Bones

Phalanges

long bones of the hand

Numbered IV from lateral

(thumb) to medial
Articulate with proximal
phalanges

Pollex (thumb):
2 phalanges (proximal,
distal)

Fingers:
3 phalanges (proximal,
middle, distal)

The Pelvic Girdle

Hipbones - Os Coxae
Made up of 3 fused bones:
ilium
ischium
pubis

Acetabulum - hip socket

meeting point of ilium,
ischium, & pubis
on the lateral surface of
the os coxae
articulates with head of
femur

 Marks
Obturator foramen:
formed by ischial and pubic rami
attaches hip muscles

Pubic symphysis:
gap between pubic tubercles
padded with fibrocartilage

The Pelvis

Consists of 2 ossa coxae, sacrum, & coccyx

Stabilized by ligaments of pelvic girdle,
sacrum, and lumbar vertebrae

Divisions of the Pelvis

True Pelvis
Pelvic brim:
upper edge of true
pelvis
encloses pelvic inlet

Perineum region:

inferior edges of true

pelvis
forms pelvic outlet
perineal muscles
support organs of
pelvic cavity

False pelvis

blades of ilium above arcuate line

Childbearing Modifications

Enlarged pelvic outlet

Broad pubic angle (> 100)
Less curvature of sacrum and coccyx
Wide, circular pelvic inlet
Broad, low pelvis
Ilia project laterally, not upwards
Due to above, female pelvis is smoother & lighter

Femur

Lower Limbs

Structures
Proximal Epiphysis
Femoral head:
articulates with pelvis at
acetabulum

Neck
narrow area between
head & trochanters

Greater & lesser

trochanters
tendon attachments

 Shaft
Linea aspera:
most prominent ridge of shaft
attaches hip muscles

Distal Epiphysis
Medial & lateral epicondyles:
above the knee joint

Medial & lateral condyles:

form part of knee joint

Patella - kneecap

A sesamoid bone
Base attaches quadriceps
femoris
Apex attaches patellar
ligament

Tibia

Structures
Proximal Epiphysis
Medial and lateral tibial
condyles
articulate with medial & lateral
condyles of femur
Tibial tuberosity: attaches
patellar ligament

Shaft
Anterior margin: sharp ridge of
shinbone

Distal Epiphysis

Medial malleolus: medial projection at ankle

Figure 813

Fibula
Fibula/tibia articulations:
head
inferior tibiofibular joint

Interosseous membrane:
binds fibula to tibia

Lateral malleolus:
lateral projection of ankle

Ankle - tarsus

consists of 7 tarsal bones

Talus carries weight from tibia

across trochlea
Calcaneus (heel bone):
transfers weight from talus to
ground & attaches Achilles
tendon
Cuboid bone: articulates with
calcaneus
Navicular bone: articulates with talus and
3 cuneiform bones
Medial cuneiform
Intermediate cuneiform
Lateral cuneiform

Figure 814a

Feet

5 metatarsal bones
long bones of foot
numbered IV, medial to lateral
Articulate with toes

phalanges
bones of the toes
hallux: big toe, 2 phalanges
(distal, proximal)
Other 4 toes: 3 phalanges
(distal, medial, proximal)

Figure 814a

Arches

Arches transfer weight from 1 part of the foot

to another
Longitudinal Arch

Calcanear portion: lateral

Talar portion: medial

Transverse Arch

Formed by a difference in curvature between

medial and lateral borders of the foot

Figure 814b