The Axial Skeleton

Dr. Katelyn Wood, PhD

katelyn.wood@uwo.ca
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this lesson you will be able to…

• Identify bones and key landmarks of the skull

• Compare/Contrast vertebrae from different spinal levels in terms of features

• Identify key ligaments of the spine

• Understand a variety of clinical considerations throughout the spine

 AXIAL

The Skeleton skull

mandible
sternum
ribs (costa)
Functions vertebrae
cervical (7)
thoracic (12)
• Support and framework lumbar (5)
sacrum + coccyx
• Leverage for movement
• Protection of vital organs
• Storage of minerals
• Production of blood cells

APPENDICULAR
The Skull
The Skull
Neurocranium Viscerocranium (Facial)
Bones Bones
Frontal Ethmoid
Occipital Inferior Nasal Concha
Parietal Lacrimal
Sphenoid Zygomatic
Temporal Vomer
Mandible
Maxilla
Nasal
Palatine
 The Skull Frontal bone

Neurocranium
Parietal bone

Sphenoid bone
Temporal
bone

Occipital
bone
Neurocranium Bones
Frontal
Occipital
Parietal
Sphenoid
Temporal
 The Skull Frontal bone

Neurocranium
Parietal bone

internal auditory meatus

--> part of the ear canal

occipital condyles --> Sphenoid bone

articulate with the
vertebra to allow you to Temporal
nod up and down bone Sella Turcica
sella turcica is part of the
Internal Auditory
sphenoid bone; means Meatus
saddle

sphenoid bone is where

the pituitary gland sits
Occipital
bone
Neurocranium Bones
Occipital Condyles
Frontal
Occipital
Parietal
Sphenoid
Temporal
 The Skull
Neurocranium
Parietal bone

Temporal
bone

Occipital
bone
Neurocranium Bones
Occipital Condyles Foramen
Frontal Magnum
Occipital
Parietal
Sphenoid
Temporal
 The Skull Frontal bone

Neurocranium
Parietal bone

Sphenoid bone
- skull cap (calvaria)

sphenoid bone Sella Turcica

- lesser wing --> more superior
portion of the bone
- greater wing
Temporal
bone
Internal Auditory
Meatus

Lesser Wing

Occipital Greater Wing

bone
Neurocranium Bones
Foramen Magnum
Frontal
Occipital
Parietal
Sphenoid
Temporal
Sutures
(a) superior view (b) lateral view

Frontal bone

Coronal suture

Sagittal suture

Parietal
bones

Labdoid suture

Squamoid suture
Occipital bone
Temporal bone
Fontanelles
 The Skull Ethmoid bone

Viscerocranium

Lacrimal bone

Nasal
bone
Viscerocranium
(Facial) Bones
Ethmoid Zygomatic
Inferior Nasal Concha
bone

Lacrimal
Zygomatic
Vomer
Mandible
Maxilla Maxilla bone
Nasal
Palatine Mandible
 The Skull Ethmoid bone

Viscerocranium

Nasal
bone

Viscerocranium
(Facial) Bones Inferior
Ethmoid
Nasal
Concha
Inferior Nasal Concha
Lacrimal
Vomer
Zygomatic
bone
Vomer Palatine bone
Mandible
Maxilla bone
Maxilla
Nasal
Mandible
Palatine
 The Skull
Viscerocranium

Viscerocranium
(Facial) Bones
Ethmoid
Inferior Nasal Concha
Vomer
Lacrimal bone
Zygomatic
Palatine bone
Vomer Inferior Nasal
Mandible Concha
Maxilla
Nasal Maxilla bone
Mandible
Palatine
 The Skull Nasal bone

Viscerocranium

Zygomatic
Lacrimal bone bone

Vomer
Ethmoid bone bone
Viscerocranium
(Facial) Bones
Ethmoid
Inferior Nasal Concha
Inferior Nasal
Lacrimal
Concha
Zygomatic
Vomer
Mandible
Maxilla
Nasal Maxilla bone
Mandible
Palatine
The Spine
+ Vertebrae
 SUPERIOR

The Spine
1
2
3
4 Cervical
5
6
7
vertebrae (7)
1
2
3
• 24 Vertebrae 4
5

• 7 Cervical 6
7
Thoracic
• 12 Thoracic 8
9 vertebrae (12)
• 5 Lumbar 10
11

• 1 Sacrum 12
1
• 5 fused vertebrae 2

• 1 Coccyx 3 Lumbar
4 vertebrae (5)
5

Sacrum (1)
Intervertebral
disc Coccyx (1)
Curvatures of the Spine
Abnormal Curves of the Spine

(A) Scoliosis (B) Kyphosis (C) Lordosis

Surface Anatomy
General Vertebral
Anatomy

Body
(body)
Pedicle
(arm)

Transverse Pr.
Lamina (elbow)
(forearm)

Spine
(hands)
General Vertebral
Anatomy Superior Superior
Vertebral Articular
Notch Facet
Intervertebral foramen

Spinal nerve
Cervical Spine
• 7 vertebra

• Lordosis

• Key Features:
• Bifid spinous pr.
• Transverse Foramen
• C1 (Atlas)
• No body or spine
• C2 (Axis)
• Dens
 anterior
Cervical Spine
Typical Vertebrae (7)

lateral

superior
 anterior
Cervical Spine
Atlas (C1)

lateral

superior
 anterior
Cervical Spine
Axis (C2)

lateral

superior
Vertebral Artery
Cervical Spine Manipulation
Risk of Vertebral Artery Dissection, or Stroke (dislodged thrombus)

superior view

vertebral
artery
Thoracic Spine
• Kyphosis
• 12 vertebra
• Key Features:
• “giraffe” shaped spines
• Heart-shaped bodies
• Costal facets
 Thoracic Spine anterior

Typical Vertebrae (12)

lateral

superior
Lumbar Spine
• Lordosis
• 5 vertebra
• Key Features:
• Squat, thick bodies
• “moose” shaped spines
 Lumbar Spine anterior
Typical Vertebrae (5)

lateral

superior
 Normal Osteoporotic

Osteoporosis
• Imbalance between bone
formation (osteoblast) +
breakdown (osteoclast)
activity

• Symptoms:
• Back pain
• Compression Fractures
Cervical Thoracic Lumbar
Sacrum + Coccyx
• Kyphosis
• 5 Fused vertebra
• Key Features:
• Promontory
• Auricular surface
• Sacral canal + hiatus
• Coccyx (3-5 fused vertebrae)
 lateral

Sacrum + Coccyx

posterior anterior
Vertebral Comparison
Size Body Shape Spinous Pr. Special Features

Cervical Small -- bifid Transverse foramen

Costal facets and

Thoracic Medium Heart-shaped Giraffe
articular facets

Lumbar Large Concave edges Moose --

None Posterior No IVD with C2,

Atlas Small
(anterior arch) tubercle atlanto-occipital jt

Medial Atlanto-Axial jt,

Axis Small Dens bifid
2 lateral atlant-axial jts

promontory, auricular
Sacrum Large 5 fused
surface

Coccyx Small 2-3 fused minimal

Ligaments of
the Spine
Longitudinal Ligaments

• Anterior
• Anterior of vertebral bodies
• Broad fibrous band
• Occipital bone to sacrum

• Posterior
• Posterior of vertebral bodies
• Narrow fibrous band
• Within vertebral canal
Longitudinal Ligaments

• Supraspinous Ligament
• On top of spinous processes

• Interspinous Ligament
• Between Spinous Processes

• Ligamentum Flavum
• Between Lamina Processes
Joints of the Spine
Joints of the Spine
• Atlanto-Occipital Jt
• Lateral Atlantoaxial Jt
• *medial jt not seen here
• Zygapophyseal Jt
• Intervertebral Jt
• *Costovertebral Jts
Atlanto-Occipital Joints
• Synovial joints between superior
articular facets of atlas + occipital
condyles of skull
• Allow for nodding (flexion/extension)
Atlanto-Axial Joints
• 2 lateral (LAJ)
• 1 medial (MAJ) joint between atlas and axis
• Similar to zygapophyseal joints
• Facilitates pivoting of the head

Transverse
Ligament of
Atlas

superior
Torn transverse ligament Fracture of Dens
Zygapophyseal (Facet)
Joints
• Plane, synovial joints between
articular processes of adjacent
vertebrae

• Stabilize column

• Innervation: dorsal rami

Zygapophyseal (Facet)
Joints
• Plane, synovial joints between
articular processes of adjacent
vertebrae

• Stabilize column

• Innervation: dorsal rami Inferior Articular Pr.

Superior Articular Pr.

Intervertebral Joints
• Fibrocartilaginous Joints

• Between Vertebral Bodies +

Intervertebral Discs

• Not between C1 & C2

• C1 has no body
Intervertebral Disc

• Outer part = Annulus Fibrosis

• Thick Fibrous Ring

• Inner part = Nucleus Pulposus

• Gelatinous centre
• Avascular

• Shock absorption, maintain spinal alignment L2

• Named for vertebrae above + below L2-3 Disc

L3
Disc Herniation
Costovertebral/Costotransverse
Joints
Thoracic Cage
Thoracic Cage
Composed of
• 12 Ribs (X2)
• Costal Cartilage
• Sternum
• Manubrium
• Body
• Xyphoid Process
• Thoracic Vertebrae (T1-T12)

Designed to protect vital organs

 Suprasternal notch

The Sternum Clavicular notch

Manubrium

Sternal angle

Facet for
Costal Cartilage Body

Xyphoid
Anterior view
process
Rib Anatomy

Neck Head Superior facet

Articular Facet for
Transverse Process Inferior facet

Tubercle

Costal angle

Costal groove Body

(c) Posterior view

To Summarize…
• The axial skeleton consists of the skull, vertebral column and ribs

• The spinal cord is protected by running through the vertebral foramen

• Vertebral shape and features change throughout the vertebral column to

support a variety of functions

• Joints of the vertebral column are supported by a variety of ligaments that

traverse the length of the column

• You have 12 pairs of ribs: 7 true, 3 false, 2 floating

 ©

katelyn.wood@uwo.ca