landmarks

Bony Anatomy

Each of the following landmarks will be discussed throughout the semester. You are responsible for knowing where to palpate each of these structures on yourself or a partner. You will be assessed by taking four quizzes on this information
Foot and Ankle:
Know the five phalanges and metatarsals and know the numbers of each. Know that the group of bones proximal to the metatarsals are known as the tarsals, of which there are seven.
The four lateral toes each are made up of three bones known as phalanges. These bones are termed the distal, inter and proximal phalanges as one moves from the tip of the toe toward the heel.
The calcaneus is the heel bone. The talus is located just above (superior) it.
Cuneiform one is proximal to metatarsal one. Cuneiform two is proximal to metatarsal two. Cuneiform three is proximal to metatarsal three. Cuboid is proximal to metatarsals four and five.
The parts of the metatarsals closest to the toes are known as the heads of the metatarsals. These are the bones you bear weight on when going up on your toes. The other ends of the metatarsals are known as the base of the metatarsals. You should be able to easily feel the base of the fifth metatarsal, the most commonly fractured bone in the body.
The joint between the talus and the tibia and fibula is the ankle joint and allows motion of the foot up and down. The joint between the talus and the calcaneus is known as the subtalar joint and permits side to side motion.
There are two bones in the lower leg. The largest is the tibia and the smaller is the fibula. At the distal end of each of these bones are the ankle bones or malleoli (malleolus for one). The bump on the inside is the medial malleolus of the tibia, while the other is the lateral malleolus of the fibula.
The end of the fibula closest to the knee is known as the head of fibula. The larger bump on the proximal end of the tibia directly below the knee cap (patella) is the tibial tubercle.
Take a quiz and see what you know. You will need to install shockwave if you don't already have it.
Knee and Thigh
The knee cap is more properly known as the patella and sits on top of the largest bone in the body, the femur.
The joint between the tibia and femur is the knee joint while the joint between the patella and the femur is known as the patello-femoral joint.
The femur, like the tibia and fibula, swells at its distal end (the end by the knee) to form two large wheel-like shapes known as the femoral condyles. The condyles allow the knee to glide on the flat surface of the tibia. The tibia is deepened by two "C-shaped" structures known commonly as cartilage and more properly as the medial and lateral menisci (meniscus for one).
At the medial and lateral edges of these condyles are small bumps where ligaments attach. These are known as the medial and lateral epicondyles of the femur.
The medial and lateral collateral ligaments attach on the epicondyles and prevent the knee from going side to side.
Hip and Pelvis
At the proximal (top) end of the femur are two bumps. The bump at "in-seem" level and the widest part of your hip is the greater trochanter. And if there is a greater trochanter, there must be a lesser trochanter. The lesser trochanter cannot be palpated, but is the attachment of a strong muscle that allows you to lift your leg (iliopsoas).
The pelvis is made up of three bones: ilium, ischium, pubis. There is a set of each on the left and right sides of the pelvis
The hip joint is a ball and socket joint. The ball is really the head of the femur and the socket is known as the acetabulum and is made up each of the three bones of the pelvis.
Three big landmarks you should know: The iliac crest is the top of the hip region. The bones you sit on are known as the ischial tuberosities, and the bone in the crotch region is known as the pubic bones. The joint where the pubic bones come together is known as the pubic symphysis.
Shoulder
The shoulder blade is properly known as the scapula while the collar bone is called the clavicle.
The shoulder blade or bony bump on the scapula is known as the spine of the scapula. Another bump on the scapula is found just below the inward curve of the clavicle and is known as the coracoid process.
The bony top of the shoulder is called the acromion process and is just a thickened end to the scapular spine.
The shoulder, like the hip is a ball and socket joint and the socket is known as the glenoid fossa of scapula. The ball consists of the head of the humerus.
The attachment of the lateral end of the clavicle with the acromion forms a joint known as the acromio-clavicular or AC joint. When this joint is sprained it is called a separated shoulder.
The attachment of the medial clavicle with the sternum forms a joint known as the sterno-clavicular or SC joint.
The elbow is made up of the humerus and ulna.
There are two bones in the forearm: the radius and the ulna.
The humerus has a head and condyles just like the femur. The condyles of the humerus are known as the medial and lateral condyles and more specifically as the troclea (medially) and capitellum (laterally).
Like the femur, there are two bumps on the medial and lateral sides of the condyles. These are known as the medial and lateral epicondyles and are bumps where ligaments attach. What might their names be?
Hand and Wrist
Like the foot, the hand has phalanges numbered 1-5, and metacarpals numbered the same.
The hand has eight carpal bones that lay in two rows of four. The trapezium like the first cuneiform is directly proximal to the first metacarpal (thumb), while the trapezoid is just proximal to metacarpal two. Understand this relationship between foot and hand.
The capitate is located just proximal to the third metacarpal while the hamate is proximal to the fourth and fifth metacarpals (like three cuneiform and cuboid).
The proximal row of carpals consists of the navicular, triquetrum, pisiform, and lunate. Refer to illustrations to view these.
Spine
The backbone or spine is divided up into regions. These are the cervical (neck area), thoracic (rib region), lumbar (low back), sacral, and coccyx.
There are seven cervical, 12 thoracic, five lumbar, five sacrum (fused) four coccyx vertebrae.
The vertebrae can be subdivided into the following parts: vertebral body, lamina, pedicle, transverse and spinous process.
The vertebral arch consists of the lamina and pedicles and forms a covering or hood over the vertebral body. The hole inside is called the vertebral canal and is the passageway where the spinal cord runs.
Head and face
The bones of the forehead are known as the frontal bones. The parietal bones form the top of the head. The temporal bones are located around the ear region and the occipital bones are found in the back of the head.
The jaw bone is more properly known as the mandible. The bones that the upper teeth anchor into are the maxillary bones and the cheek bones are known as the zygoma bones.
The nose is made up of both bone and cartilage. The bony portion is consists of the nasal.