Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

The large bone that makes up the forehead and supplies the upper edge and roof of the orbit (eye socket). The frontal bone articulates (comes together) with a number of other bones including the parietal, nasal, ethmoid, maxillary, and zygomatic bones.

An irregularly shaped, spongy bone that provides the floor of the front part of the skull and the roof of the nose. The ethmoid bone consists of two masses of thin plates enclosing air cells and looks like a sieve.

Any bone that develops in and replaces cartilage. The cartilage is partially or entirely destroyed by the process of calcification. The cartilage is then resorbed (reabsorbed), leaving bone in its place. Many bones are formed this way, particularly the long bones of the arms, legs, and ribs. “Endochondral” means “within cartilage.”

The outer bone in the instep of the foot. It is called the cuboid bone because it is shaped like a cube. The cuboid bone is jointed in back with the heel bone (calcaneus) and in front with the bones just behind the fourth and fifth toes (metatarsals).

Part of the top portion of the skull which protects the brain. The bones of the cranium include the frontal, parietal, occipital, temporal, sphenoid, and ethmoid bones.

A horizontal bone above the first rib that makes up the front part of the shoulder. The collarbone, also called the clavicle, links the sternum, or breastbone, with the scapula, a triangular bone in the back of the shoulder. The collarbone ends at the sternum, forming one side of the sternoclavicular joint. It ends at…

The small tail-like bone at the bottom of the spine very near to the anus. The coccyx is made up of 3-5 rudimentary vertebrae. It is the lowest part of the spinal column. The word “coccygeal” comes from the Greek “kokkyx” meaning “cuckoo bird.” It got this name because it was thought to look like the bill…

One of the wrist bones. There are eight carpal bones that are arranged in two rows. The carpal bones articulate (come together to form a joint) proximally (on their near ends) with the long bones of the forearm — the radius and, indirectly, with the ulna — and distally (on their far ends) with the…

Familiar name for the fibula, the lateral (outside) and smaller of the two long bones in the lower leg. The other bone in the lower leg is the tibia. The tibia bears weight; the fibula does not. The fibula articulates (comes together to form a joint) with the tibia above and with the tibia and…

Familiar name for what is medically termed the sternum, the long flat bone in the middle of the front of the chest. The sternum articulates (comes together) with the cartilages of the first seven ribs and with the clavicle (collar bone) to form the middle part of the anterior (front) wall of the thorax (chest).…