Anatomy and Physiology I

Lab 3 – Cartilage and Bone

Objectives

 Identify hyaline cartilage at the joint surface and epiphyseal plate.

 Identify the microscopic features of compact and cancellous bone.
 Identify the gross structural features of a long bone.
 Identify the individual cranial and facial bones on the skull.
 Identify the fontanels on the fetal skull.
 Identify and list the components of the vertebral column and thoracic cage.
 Identify the bones of the upper extremity and the pectoral girdle.
 Identify the bones of the lower extremity and the pelvic girdle.

Pre-lab reading from the lab manual:

 Read Unit 7 Introduction to the Skeletal System (in 3rd ed. pages 159-167 or in 2nd ed.
pages 141-148) in the lab manual
 Review Unit 8 Skeletal System (in 3rd ed. pages 179-203 or in the 2nd ed. 159-180) in the
lab manual
 Pharmacy and Nursing textbook: Read 6.1 – 6.4 (pages 173-184) in your textbook and
bring figure 6.12 and all of Chapter 7 to use for bone identification.

Note to TAs: You will do Lab activities A-C by demonstration to the class. We will try to have
one skull for each table so the students can follow along, but you may need to walk around the
room as you demonstrate some structures because of the poor quality of some of the skulls.
Lab activity D is a cooperative learning activity where the students will teach each other and you
will make sure they are disseminating the correct information.

Lab Activities A: Examine the histological specimens of bone and cartilage

1. Unit 7 – Exercise 7-1: Examine the slides of compact (ground bone slide) and cancellous
(adult joint slide) bone; compare and contrast the microscopic appearance of these two
types of bone.

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Compact or Ground Bone
 Identify osteon, lamellae, central canal and
lacuna.
 Osteons look like a cross-section of a tree
trunk or onion.
 The central canal is located in the middle of
the osteon.
 Lamellae are concentric rings of matrix
surrounding central canal.
 Lacunae are small wells that dot the
lamellae. The osteocytes reside in the
lacunae.
 Where is compact bone found?

2. Examine the slide labeled adult joint. Examine the cartilage on the joint surface and
epiphyseal plate. What type of cartilage is found in these regions? Hyaline

Cancellous (Spongy or
trabecular) Bone and
Epiphyseal plate (adult
joint slide)

 Identify lamellae,
osteocytes, lacuna
and trabeculae.
 There are no osteons
in cancellous bone.
 Can you identify an
osteoclast on your
slide? Osteoclasts
are large
multinucleated cells
that destroy boney
matrix (often see in
Epiphyseal
the bone marrow
cavity around the plate
cancellous bone)
Spongy bone
Marrow
Cavity

Lab Activity B: Examine the Gross Structure of Bones

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1. Unit 7- Exercise 7-4: Examine the longitudinal-section of the femur. Identify the following
structural features (see Identification of long bone structure Fig 7.8 of your lab manual, 2 nd ed.,
on page 148.):

 Cancellous (spongy) Bone

 Compact Bone
 Diaphysis
 Epiphysis
 Epiphyseal Line (growth plate)
 Medullary (marrow) Cavity

Lab Activity C: Exercise 8-1 :Adult and Fetal Skull

1. On the adult skull, identify the following cranial and facial bones. You are only responsible
for the bones and landmarks listed in this handout.

Cranial Bones (#) Facial Bones (#)

Occipital (1) Mandible (1)
 foramen magnum  mandibular condyle
 occipital condyles  mandibular ramus
Parietal (2) Maxilla (2)
Frontal (1) Palatine (2)
Temporal (2) Nasal (2)
 external acoustic meatus
 mastoid process
 mandibular fossa
Sphenoid (1) Vomer (1)
Ethmoid (1) Zygomatic (2)
 cribiform plate
Lacrimal (2)
Inferior nasal conchae or turbinates (2)

2. On the fetal skull, identify the major fontanels [anterior, occipital (posterior), sphenoid,
and mastoid].
 Explain the importance of the fontanels.

The fontanels are fibrous joints between the flat bones of the skull which allow for continued
growth of the skull to accommodate growth of the brain. In addition, they allow the skull to
squeeze through the birth canal by temporarily changing shape. Fontanels can be used to
access hydration and excessive intracranial pressure. Closure times: Posterior:2 months;
sphenoid:3 months, mastoid:12 months, anterior:12-18 months

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Lab Activity D: Identification of Bones Jigsaw Learning Activity
You will be assigned to one of four learning groups. Each learning group will be responsible for
learning bones of a specific body region. Once the learning activity is completed the members
of the learning groups will be shuffled into teaching groups. The teaching groups will have at
least one representative from each learning group. Students in the teaching groups are
responsible for teaching the other members of their group the body region they studied in their
learning group.

Learning Group 1: Exercise 8-2: Thoracic Cage and Vertebral Column.

Hyoid Vertebrae
 intervertebral foramen.
Sternum  lamina
 body  pedicle
 manubrium  spinous process
 xiphoid  transverse foramen (cervical region)
 transverse process
Ribs  vertebral body
 True 1-7 (vertebrosternal)  vertebral foramen
 False 8-12 Sacrum
Coccyx
o 8-10 vertebrochondral
o 11-12 floating or vertebral

1a. Identify the jugular (suprascapular) notch and the manubriosternal angle (joint).
Palpate these structures on yourself.
1b. Examine the intact rib cage, noting the differences between the true, false and floating
ribs.

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 The manubriosternal joint aligns with the second rib. The junction of the first rib with the
sternum occurs deep to the clavicle.

Learning Group 2: Exercise 8-3: Pectoral Girdle and Upper Limb

Clavicle Humerus
 condyles (trochlea & capitulum)
 epicondyles
 greater tubercle
 head

Scapula Ulna
 acromion  trochlear notch
 coracoid process  olecranon process
 glenoid cavity  coronoid process
 spine  styloid process
 subscapular fossa

Radius Metacarpal (I –V)

 styloid process
Carpal Phalanges

2a. You will not have to identify individual carpal bones. You should understand the
numbering system used to distinguish the metacarpal bones and distinguish between
proximal, intermediate and distal phalanges on the intact hand.
2b. Try to palpate the following surface landmarks on yourself or a cooperative classmate:
lateral and medial epicondyle of the humerus, olecranon process and the styloid
process of ulna, and styloid process of the radius

Learning Group 3: Exercise 8-3: Pelvic Girdle

Ilium Ischium
 ala  ischial spine
 anterior superior iliac spine  ischial tuberosity
 greater sciatic notch  obturator foramen
 iliac crest
 posterior superior iliac spine

Pubis Acetabulum
 pubic arch
 pubic symphysis

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 3a. Identify the pelvic brim (inlet). false pelvis (A.K.A. greater pelvis) and true pelvis
(A.K.A. lesser pelvis)

3b. What pelvic features are used in distinguishing a skeleton’s sex?

Feature Female Male

Ilium Broader and shallower bowl Bowl of the false pelvis is more
of the false pelvis upright and deeper
Pelvic brim Larger, oval to round Smaller, heart shaped
Acetabulum Smaller, wider apart Larger, closer together
Pubic arch/angle Rounder (>80-90°) More acute (50-60°)
Coccyx Straighter More curved anteriorly
Ischial tuberosity Everted Inverted

3c. Try to palpate the following surface landmarks on yourself or a cooperative classmate:
iliac crest and anterior superior iliac spine

Learning Group 4: Exercise 8-3: Lower Limb

Femur Tibia
 condyles  medial malleolus
 epicondyles  tibial crest
 greater & lesser trochanter  tibial tuberosity
 head
Patella

Fibula Tarsal
 lateral malleolus  calcaneus
 talus

Metatarsal (I-V) Phalanges

4a. You will not have to identify all the individual tarsal bones, except for the calcaneus and
talus. You should understand the number system used to distinguish the metatarsal bones.

4b.Try to palpate the following surface landmarks on yourself or a cooperative classmate,

lateral and medial epicondyles of the femur, patella, tibial crest, tibial tuberosity,
medial malleolus of the tibia, lateral malleolus of the fibula, and calcaneal tendon.

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 Appendix
Common Bone Marking Terminology

A. Joint Surfaces
1. Condyle = smooth rounded articular process
2. Facet = small, flat articular process
3. Head = an expanded rounded articular process often separated from the shaft by a
narrow neck
4. Trochlea = smooth, grooved articular process resembling a pulley

B. Depressions and Cavities

1. Fossa = shallow concave depression
2. Foramen = a rounded passageway for nerves or vessels
3. Meatus = canal
4. Sinus = air filled chamber in bone

C. Attachment for Tendon and Ligaments

1. Crest = prominent narrow elongated ridge of bone
2. Epicondyle = raised, roughened surface above a condyle
3. Process = any projection or bump
4. Ramus = an extension of bone making an angle with the rest of the structure
5. Spine = a pointed process
6. Trochanter = very large, irregular process
7. Tubercle = small, rounded projection
8. Tuberosity = large, irregular process between a trochanter and tubercle in size