Flashcards: the dog's skeleton

Answer key

1. Skull (cranium) — The bones of the head, without the mandible.
2. Mandible (mandibula) — The bone of the lower jaw, articulated with the skull at the temporomandibular joint.
3. Cervical vertebrae (vertebrae cervicales) — The vertebral column in the neck region.
4. Thoracic vertebrae (vertebrae thoracicae) — The vertebral column above the thorax, from the withers to the last rib.
5. Lumbar vertebrae (vertebrae lumbales) — The vertebral column between the last rib and the sacrum.
6. Sacrum (os sacrum) — Between the lumbar vertebrae and the tail, under the croup.
7. Caudal vertebrae (vertebrae caudales) — The skeleton of the tail.
8. Ribs (costae) — From the thoracic vertebrae to the sternum, on the sides of the thorax.
9. Sternum (sternum) — On the bottom line of the thorax, between the two rows of ribs.
10. Scapula (shoulder blade) (scapula) — The flat bone on the side of the thorax, under the shoulder region.
11. Humerus (humerus) — The bone of the upper arm, from the shoulder to the elbow.
12. Radius (radius) — The front bone of the forearm, from the elbow to the carpus.
13. Ulna (ulna) — The rear bone of the forearm; its upper end is the point of the elbow.
14. Carpal bones (ossa carpi) — Between the radius/ulna and the metacarpus.
15. Metacarpus (ossa metacarpalia) — Between the carpus and the front toes; the segment of the paw raised off the ground.
16. Front digits (toes) (digiti manus) — The end of the forepaw, with the pads and claws.
17. Pelvis (hip bone) (os coxae) — Under the croup, between the sacrum and the femur.
18. Femur (femur) — The bone of the thigh, from the hip to the stifle.
19. Patella (kneecap) (patella) — In front of the stifle, in the tendon of the quadriceps muscle.
20. Tibia (tibia) — The main bone of the lower leg, from the stifle to the hock.
21. Fibula (fibula) — The slender bone on the outer side of the lower leg.
22. Tarsal bones (ossa tarsi) — Between the tibia/fibula and the metatarsus; they form the hock.
23. Metatarsus (ossa metatarsalia) — Between the tarsus and the hind digits.
24. Hind digits (digiti pedis) — The end of the hind paw.
25. Orbit (orbita) — The bony cavity of the eye.
26. Zygomatic arch (arcus zygomaticus) — The cheekbone, below the eye, from the orbit to the jaw joint; easily felt under the skin.
27. Temporomandibular joint (articulatio temporomandibularis) — The jaw joint, below the ear, behind the zygomatic arch.
28. Tympanic bulla (bulla tympanica) — Under the skull, behind the jaw joint.
29. External occipital protuberance (protuberantia occipitalis externa) — The rearmost point of the skull, at the nape; easily felt under the skin.
30. External sagittal crest (crista sagittalis externa) — The ridge along the middle of the skull, between the two temporal fossae, up to the occipital protuberance.
31. Nasal bone (os nasale) — The roof of the nasal cavity, on the bridge of the nose; paired.
32. Incisive bone (os incisivum) — The bony tip of the muzzle; carries the upper incisors.
33. Maxilla (maxilla) — The facial bone above the upper teeth, in front of the orbit.
34. Frontal bone (os frontale) — The base of the forehead: above the orbits, between the nasal and the parietal bones.
35. Parietal bone (os parietale) — The roof of the braincase, between the frontal and the occipital bone.
36. Occipital bone (os occipitale) — The back end of the skull, where the atlas attaches.
37. Temporal bone (os temporale) — The lateral part of the skull, around the ear, with the tympanic bulla.
38. Zygomatic bone (os zygomaticum) — The cheekbone, below the orbit; the front part of the zygomatic arch.
39. Hyoid apparatus (apparatus hyoideus) — Between the rami of the mandible, attached above to the temporal bone, below to the larynx.