Bones Of The Cranium
| Bone | Function |
| Occipital | Contains the foramen magnum, a large hole which the spinal cord, nerves and blood vessels pass through. |
| Parietal | Forms the top and sides of the head. |
| Frontal | Forms the anterior part of the roof of the skull, forehead and upper walls of the eye sockets. The frontal bones contain a sinus above each eye. |
| Temporal | Form the sides of the skull and part of the cheekbone. Provides two muscle attachment points: the mastoid process and the zygomatic process. |
| Ethmoid | Forms the nasal cavity, part of the wall of the orbit and part of the nasal septum. |
| Sphenoid | Joins together all of the bones of the cranium. It articulates with frontal, temporal, occipital and ethmoid bones. |
Bones Of The Face
| Bone | Function |
| Nasal | Forms the bridge of the nose. |
| Vomer | Forms of the dividing wall of the nose. |
| Palatine | Forms the floor and wall of the nose and the roof of the mouth. |
| Turbinate | Forms the outer walls of the nose. |
| Lacrimal | Forms the inner walls of the eye sockets, including a small groove for the tear ducts. These are the smallest of the facial bones and are located close to the medial part of the orbital cavity. |
| Malar (Zygomatic) | Forms the cheekbones. |
| Maxillae | Forms the upper jaw. These are the largest bones of the face. |
| Mandible | Holds the lower teeth, and is the only moveable bone of the skull. This is the largest and heaviest bone of the skull. |
The Neck, Chest & Shoulder
The bones of the neck, chest and shoulder serve multiple purposes. They must protect the vital organs enclosed within the thoracic cavity, whilst also providing movement for the head and upper limbs.
| Bone | Function |
| Cervical Vertebrae | Forms the top of the spinal column. The first vertebra, which supports the skull, is the atlas; the axis is the second, which allows the rotation of the head. These are the smallest vertebrae in the vertebral column. |
| Hyoid | Supports the tongue. |
| Clavicle | Forms a joint with the sternum and the scapula bones, allowing movement of the shoulder. This is a long slender bone with a double curve. |
| Scapula | Provides attachment for muscles which move the arms. It is a large flat bone, triangular in outline. |
| Humerus | The long bone of the upper arm. Forms a ball-and- socket joint with the scapula. It allows movement in any direction. |
| Sternum | Protects the inner organs, provides a surface for muscle attachment and supports muscle movement. It is a flat bone lying in the centre of the chest. |
Bones Of The Arm and Hand
The bones of the arm consist of the humerus in the upper arm with the forearm comprising of the radius and ulna.
The wrist is made up of eight small bones of irregular size called carpals. These fit closely together and are held in place by ligaments. The proximal row of carpals articulate with the ulna and the radius and consist of the scaphoid, lunate, triquetral and pisiform. The distal row of carpals articulates with the metacarpals and is made up of trapezium, trapezoid, capitate and hamate.
The metacarpals are the five long bones in the palm of the hand. Each end articulates with the wrist bones and the finger bones.
The finger bones are called phalanges. There are a total of 14 phalanges per hand; two in the thumb, and three in each finger.
Bones Of The Leg and Foot
The leg is made up of the femur, patella, tibia and fibula, with each foot having seven tarsals, five metatarsals and 14 phalanges.
The longest bone in the body is the femur, which is the thigh bone, and the distal ends of the femur articulate with the patella. The patella makes up the kneecap, and is located anterior to the knee joint. The fibula and tibia make up the lower section of the leg. The fibula can be found on the lateral side of the tibia and the end forms the part of the ankle on the lateral side.
The seven tarsals consist of the talus, calcaneum, cuboid, cuneiform (lateral, intermediate and medial) and navicular, with five metatarsals and fourteen phalanges in each foot. It is the metatarsals and phalanges which go on to form the toes.
The bones of the feet form arches which are designed to support the body’s weight and provide leverage. The arches are maintained by the ligaments and muscles.
Bones Of The Pelvic Girdle
The pelvic girdle consists of the two hip bones. The hip bones are connected to each other anteriorly at the pubic symphysis, and posteriorly to the sacrum at the sacroiliac joints to form the pelvic ring.
Commonly referred to as your hip bones, the two major bones in your pelvis are your innominate, or coxal bones. Each coxal bone is made up of three smaller bones that fuse together: your ilium, ischium and pubic bone.
The ilium is the largest bone in the pelvic girdle. The upper border of the iliac crest is a site of attachment for muscles of the anterior and posterior abdominal walls.
The ischium forms the posterior part of the pelvic girdle and the pubis is two pubic bones in the most anterior portion of the pelvis. They provide attachment sites for some of the abdominal muscles and fasciae. The ischia are the weight carrying bones used for sitting.
The pubic bones meet at the front of the pelvis and are linked together by a bridge of flexible cartilage. A woman’s pelvis is shallower and wider than a man’s, making it wide enough for a baby to pass through during birth.
The pelvic girdle supports the vertebral column and the body’s weight, whilst also offering protection to delicate organs.
Hip Joint
The legs are connected to the pelvis by the hip joint. The head of the femur or thigh bone, fits inside a deep socket in the pelvis called the acetabulum to make the hip joint, which is a ‘ball and socket’ joint.
The pelvis is joined to the spine at the sacrum – a bone made up of up to five fused vertebrae in the lower part of the spine. The sacrum forms the back wall of the pelvis.
The Vertebral Column (Spine)
The vertebral column is the central part of the skeleton. It is a strong flexible structure which protects the
spinal cord, supports the head and is the site of attachment for the ribs and muscles of the back.
It is comprised of seven cervical vertebrae in the neck, 12 thoracic vertebrae, 10 of which articulate with the ribs, five lumbar vertebrae in the lower back, five sacral vertebrae which are fused and form part of the pelvic girdle, and three to five coccygeal vertebrae which are the fused coccyx or tailbone.
Postural Faults Of The Spine
There are three key conditions that can affect the spine, characterised by backache, spinal stiffness and sometimes nerve disorders.
Kyphosis is an exaggerated curvature of the thoracic vertebrae causing round shoulders, or a hunched back. Lordosis is an exaggerated curvature of the lumbar vertebrae giving the appearance of a protruding abdomen and hollow back. Scoliosis is an exaggerated lateral or s-shaped curvature of the spine, making one shoulder appear higher than the other.
Due to increased blood circulation, massage will help nourish the skeletal system by bringing nutrients to the bones. Joints may be taken through a wider range of movement having received massage therefore improving flexibility.