, Topic 1: The Axial Skeleton
The Skull
The skull consists of 2 groups of bones:
● The Cranium -8 flat bones that are immovably
connected to each other with serrated sutures
○ The cranium encloses & protects the brain
○ The foramen magnum is an opening which
allows the spinal cord to pass through
● The facial bones - 15 irregular bones that form the
forehead, cheeks, nose, temples, & jaws
○ All these bones are immovable besides the
lower jaw
○ The edges of the upper & lower jaw have teeth
sockets for our 32 teeth
○ The dental formula (no, type & arrangement of teeth of a specific animal)
for the human teeth is 2.1.2.3 (2 incisors, 1 canine, 2 premolars & 3 molars)
The Spine/ Vertebral Column
● The vertebral column consists of 33 bones called
vertebrae which are joined together by ligaments
● The atlas which is joined to the skull allows you to
nod & the axis allows you to shake your head
● The intervertebral discs allow the spine to bend
easily. These are made of cartilage & act as shock
absorbers or soft cushions
● The spinal cord is a collection of nerves that run
through the centre of the vertebral column &
connects the brain to the rest of the body
● The first 24 vertebrae are known as true vertebrae
while the last 9 are known as false vertebrae
because they are fused together
● The 5 sacral vertebrae form the sacrum & the last 4
form the coccyx
The Skull
The skull consists of 2 groups of bones:
● The Cranium -8 flat bones that are immovably
connected to each other with serrated sutures
○ The cranium encloses & protects the brain
○ The foramen magnum is an opening which
allows the spinal cord to pass through
● The facial bones - 15 irregular bones that form the
forehead, cheeks, nose, temples, & jaws
○ All these bones are immovable besides the
lower jaw
○ The edges of the upper & lower jaw have teeth
sockets for our 32 teeth
○ The dental formula (no, type & arrangement of teeth of a specific animal)
for the human teeth is 2.1.2.3 (2 incisors, 1 canine, 2 premolars & 3 molars)
The Spine/ Vertebral Column
● The vertebral column consists of 33 bones called
vertebrae which are joined together by ligaments
● The atlas which is joined to the skull allows you to
nod & the axis allows you to shake your head
● The intervertebral discs allow the spine to bend
easily. These are made of cartilage & act as shock
absorbers or soft cushions
● The spinal cord is a collection of nerves that run
through the centre of the vertebral column &
connects the brain to the rest of the body
● The first 24 vertebrae are known as true vertebrae
while the last 9 are known as false vertebrae
because they are fused together
● The 5 sacral vertebrae form the sacrum & the last 4
form the coccyx
