EXPERIMENT 5: PHYSICAL SKELETON – THE AXIAL SKELETON
Data Tables
Table 15: Cervical Vertebrae Observations
| Vertebral Feature | Observations |
| Size of cervical vertebrae in comparison to those of the thoracic and lumbar region | |
| Shape of the vertebral foramen | |
| Spinous process of the C3 – C6
vertebrae |
|
| Spinous process of the C7 vertebra |
Table 16: Thoracic Vertebrae Observations
| Vertebral Feature | Observations |
| Size and weight of the thoracic vertebrae in comparison to those of the cervical and lumbar region | |
| Shape of the vertebral body | |
| Appearance and projection direction of the spinous process |
Table 17: Lumbar Vertebrae Observations
| Vertebral Feature | Observations |
| Size of the lumbar vertebrae in comparison to those of the cervical and thoracic region | |
| Shape of the vertebral body | |
| Appearance and projection direction of the spinous process |
Table 18: Rib Feature Observations
| Rib Feature | Observations |
| Length of ribs 1 – 7 (do they increase or decrease in length?) | |
| Length of ribs 8 – 12 (do they increase or decrease in length?) | |
| Articulation of the ribs and thoracic vertebrae (notice the specific rib and vertebra that articulate) |
Post-Lab Questions
1. What are the three components of the axial skeleton? Describe the function of each.
2. Identify the labeled components on the skull below.
A ________________
B ________________
C ________________
D ________________
E ________________
F ________________
3. Indicate whether the following bones are cranial or facial bones, and give their location.
| Bone | Facial or Cranial Location |
| Temporal Bones | |
| Mandible | |
| Vomer | |
| Zygomatic Bones | |
| Parietal Bones | |
| Ethmoid Bone | |
| Sphenoid Bone | |
| Lacrimal Bones |
4. What are the three regions of the vertebral column? Describe the general shape and size of the vertebrae in each region.
5. What are the atlas and axis? What are their functions?
6. Identify the vertebral structures on the images below.
A ________________
B ________________
C ________________
D ________________
E ________________
7. What is the purpose of the thoracic cage?
8. Describe the three components of the sternum.
9. Describe the difference between true ribs, false ribs, and floating ribs.
©eScience Labs, 2016
