Bones of Contention Trivia Quiz

Your skull is made up of 22 bones, divided between cranial and facial bones. The cranium's job is to protect the brain, and it is comprised of eight different bones, fused together:

1 ethmoid bone (separates nasal cavity from the brain)
1 frontal bone (the forehead)
1 occipital bone (lower back of head)
2 parietal bones (the sides and top - joining with the frontal)
1 sphenoid bone (front middle of skull)
2 temporal bones (the sides and base)

The other part of the skull is made of your facial bones, which (amongst other things) is what gives your face its distinct shape. Of the 14 facial bones, the mandible, or jaw bone, is the largest. In fact, it is the largest bone in the entire skull. The mandible holds the lower teeth, assists in chewing your food and helps with speaking, and defines your jawline.

The clavicles (left and right) connect the sternum to the shoulders. Also known as collar bones, they are the longest horizontal bones within the body, and are quite prominently visible. Unfortunately, your clavicles are not as well-protected as many of the other bones in the body, lacking protective muscle tissue, and are vulnerable to injury with impact.

The manubrium is one of three bones that make up the sternum; the uppermost one, connecting with the clavicles and the two uppermost ribs. Quadrangular in shape, the term 'manubrium' is derived from the Latin word for 'handle'.

The primary of the three bones that make up the sternum is called the 'gladiolus' (Latin for 'little sword'), or the 'body'. It connects with the manubrium above and the xiphoid process below, as well as with ribs two through seven on either side.

The sternum (all three bones) are collectively referred to as the breastbone.

The humerus is one of the long bones of the body, specifically located in the upper arm, between the shoulder and the elbow. At the shoulder, the humerus connects with the glenoid cavity of the scapula (shoulder blade) as a socket joint, while at the elbow, it connects with the radius and ulna of the forearm.

The radius and ulna together make up the (long) bones of the forearm. Although a touch shorter than the ulna, the radius thicker, making it the larger of the two bones. It connects on the lateral (outer) side of the elbow, down to the thumb-side of the wrist at the distal end.

As mentioned, the ulna and the radius together make up the long bones of the forearm, between the elbow and the wrist. The ulna translates from Latin as 'elbow' and (when in anatomical position), connects to the humerus on the medial (inner) side of the elbow. At the wrist, the ulna connects on the pinky finger side.

There are eight carpal bones in each wrist, allowing for a wide range of motion and positioning for the hands. The carpals are the connection between the forearm (radius & ulna) and the hand, specifically to the metacarpals (the bones of the palm of the hand).

The femur, or thigh bone, is the longest bone in the body, connects with the cotyloid cavity of the pelvic bone, making the hip joint. At the distal end of the bone, the femur articulates with the tibia of the lower leg at the knee joint (along with the knee cap, or patella). The femurs are not only the longest long bones in the body, but also the thickest and strongest.

The phalanges are the collective name of the digital bones of the hands (fingers and toes). The thumbs of the hands and big toes on the feet are made of two phalanges (distal and proximal), while each of the fingers and the rest of the toes have three phalanges (distal, intermediate, and proximal).

Altogether, that equals 52 separate bones, just in your fingers and toes!

The patella, or kneecap, protects the knee joint on the front (anterior) surface of the leg. It is the largest sesamoid bone in the body (not directly connected to another bone, but is embedded within muscle or tendon).

At birth, the patella is made of soft cartilage, but it ossifies over time, becoming a proper bone at around age four.

The tibia is also called the shinbone, and it is the anterior (frontal) of the two bones (the other being the fibula) that make up the lower leg. It is also the larger of the two bones, and the second-largest long bone in the body (behind the femur). The tibia articulates with said femur at the proximal end, and at the distal end with the talus, (one of the seven tarsal bones of the ankle joint).

Together with the tibia, the fibula (or calf bone) comprises the lower leg. It is located to the posterior of the tibia, and is also slightly to the lateral side (outside) of the leg, comparatively. As the fibula is not a weight-bearing leg bone, it does not actually articulate directly with the femur at the proximal end. Rather it connects with the tibia at both ends, as well as with the talus bone of the ankle.

The tarsal bones of the ankle are comprised of seven different bones, divided into two main sections. The hindfoot includes the talus (which articulates with the tibia and fibia at the proximal (top) side), and the calcaneus, or heel bone. The midfoot has the other five bones that lie between the hindfoot and the metatarsal bones.