Glossary

This manual is an introductory guide and does not assume any prior knowledge of the mammalian skeleton. However, osteological identification often necessitates an unavoidable amount of specialist vocabulary, so correct anatomical terminology has been maintained throughout to avoid ambiguity. The following table provides a list of common terms used in this volume and in other faunal reference books. Labelled diagrams of a quadruped (sheep) and biped (kangaroo) are also included to illustrate the articulation of major bones in different species (Figures 0.1 and 0.2).

Anterior	Toward the front, analogous to ventral.
Appendicular	The part of the skeleton that contains the limbs.
Articulation	The place where two bones meet (often a joint).
Axial	The part of the skeleton that contains the trunk (and often head).
Biped	An animal that habitually walks on two legs.
Buccal	Facing the cheek.
Caudal	Toward the tail.
Cavity	An open area (analogous to a fossa).
Condyle	A rounded process at the point of articulation.
Cortical	The type of bone found in shafts of long bones and flat bones, also called lamellar bone.
Cranial	Toward the head.
Crest	A projecting ridge.
Deciduous teeth	Milk (baby) teeth.
Diaphysis	The shaft of a long bone (mid-section).
Diastema	A space between two teeth.
Distal	Away from the trunk of the body (along a limb).
Dorsal	Toward the back or of the back; analogous to posterior in humans.
Element	The type of bone (e.g. femur, scapula).
Epiphysis	The end of a long bone, attached to the diaphysis, which is unfused in juveniles.
Foramen	A hole or opening.
Fossa	A pit or depression (analogous to a cavity).
Inferior	Lower.
Lateral	To the side, away from the centre of an individual.
Lingual	Facing the tongue.
Longitudinal	Lengthwise.
Medial	Toward the middle or centre of an individual.
Occlusal	The biting or chewing surface of the teeth.
Posterior	Behind (analogous to dorsal in quadrupeds).
Post-cranial	Referring to all bones below the head.
Post-depositional	After burial.
Process	Any outgrowth or projection of bone.
Proximal	Toward the trunk of the body (along a limb).
Quadruped	An animal that habitually walks on four legs.
Superior	Above, top.
Taphonomy	Everything that happens to an individual between death and archaeological recovery (see in ‘Bone identification 101’, ‘Post-depositional processes’).
Tooth types	Most species have four major types of teeth: canines, incisors, molars and premolars.
Trabecular	Spongy bone, also called cancellous bone; found in the epiphysis of long bones, it acts as a cushion for joints.
Tubercle	Small, knob-like projection.
Tuberosity	Large, rough projection.
Ventral	Toward the stomach or the front; analogous to anterior.

Figure 0.1: Articulated sheep skeleton, with bones and orientations labelled.

Figure 0.2: Articulated kangaroo skeleton, with bones labelled.