1.1.a. The structure and function of the skeletal system - Location of major bones — OCR GCSE Physical Education
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1.1.a. The structure and function of the skeletal system - Location of major bones explained
This target asks you to name each listed bone and place it correctly on the body.
Read the full explanation
Learn them in regional groups. In the head and trunk: the cranium encloses the brain, the vertebrae form the spine, the ribs curve around the chest, and the sternum is the breastbone at the front. The shoulder girdle pairs the clavicle (collarbone) with the scapula (shoulder blade). The pelvis forms the hip girdle. In the arm, the humerus is the upper-arm bone, and the forearm holds the radius (thumb side) and ulna (little-finger side). The wrist has carpals, the palm has metacarpals, and the fingers have phalanges. In the leg, the femur is the thigh bone, the patella is the kneecap, the tibia is the shin bone and the fibula is the thinner outer bone. The ankle has tarsals, the sole has metatarsals, and the toes have phalanges. Practise labelling a blank skeleton and matching each name to its region.
Your focus
- Name each of the listed bones accurately
- Locate each listed bone in the correct region of the body
- Distinguish closely paired bones such as radius and ulna, and tibia and fibula
1.1.a. The structure and function of the skeletal system - Location of major bones flashcards
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Cranium
1.1.a. The structure and function of the skeletal system - Location of major bones exam tips
Marking Points
- Names the cranium as the bone enclosing the brain in the skull
- Places the vertebrae along the spine in the trunk
- Identifies the ribs as the curved bones around the chest
- Locates the sternum as the breastbone at the front of the chest
- Pairs the clavicle as the collarbone with the scapula as the shoulder blade
- Names the pelvis as the hip girdle
- Identifies the humerus as the upper-arm bone
- Distinguishes the radius on the thumb side from the ulna on the little-finger side of the forearm
- Groups carpals at the wrist, metacarpals in the palm and phalanges in the fingers
- Names the femur as the thigh bone and the patella as the kneecap
- Distinguishes the tibia as the shin bone from the fibula as the thinner outer lower-leg bone
- Groups tarsals at the ankle, metatarsals in the sole and phalanges in the toes
Examiner Tips
- 💡Learn the bones in regional groups (head and trunk, shoulder girdle, arm, hand, leg, foot) so each name has a clear home
- 💡Practise labelling a blank skeleton diagram until you can place every listed bone without prompts
- 💡Use side-by-side pairs (radius/ulna, tibia/fibula, carpals/metacarpals) to fix the differences before the exam
Common Mistakes
- Swaps the radius and ulna; remember the radius sits on the thumb side and the ulna on the little-finger side
- Confuses the tibia and fibula; the tibia is the thicker shin bone and the fibula the thinner outer bone
- Places the carpals in the palm; keep carpals at the wrist and metacarpals in the palm
- Mixes up the clavicle and scapula; the clavicle is the collarbone and the scapula the shoulder blade
- Places the patella behind the knee; the patella is the kneecap at the front of the knee