Answer
Bones are characterized by several anatomical features. These are classified under the headings of articulations, depressions, cavities/passages and extensions/projections.
1. Articulations; These are surfaces or structures that form parts of joints . They include the following:
Condyle: a rounded knob of a bone that that articulates with another bone.-- medial condyle of
femur
Facet: a smooth, flat , concave or convex articular surface. -- vertebral facets
Head: the prominent expanded head of a bone-- head of femur
2. Depressions;; There are four kinds:
Alveolus: a pit or socket-- for example, a tooth socket
Fossa : a shallow basin, broad or elongated--- anterior cranial fossa
Fovea: a small pit e.g. the fovea capitis of the radius
Sulcus: a sulcus is a groove in a bone for the passage of nerve,, tendon or blood vessel
-- central sulcus, parieto occipital sulcus, gingival sulcus, sulcus vocalis, nail bed sulcus.
3. Passages and cavities:
Canal: tubular passage through a bone -- auditory canal.
Fissure: slit through a bone: --orbital fissure
Foramen: a round hole through a bone -- foramen magnum
Meatus : canal -- external auditory meatus
Sinus; an air-filled space in a bone -- ethmoid sinus
Work Step by Step
Extensions and Projections
Crest: a narrow ridge---iliac crest
Epicondyle: an expanded region above a condyle--lateral epicondyle of humerus
Line: a slightly raised elongated ridge; nuchal line of skull
Process: any bony prominence--spinous process
Protuberance: a bony outgrowth
Spine; A small narrow process-- scapular spine
Trochanters: Two massive process found on femurs; points of attachment for muscles
Tubercle: a small round process.: lesser tubercle of humerus
