Medical Database - Bones
This is a page for assisting those who wish to become Medical Officers and/or Nurses in the fleet. In this document, we have compiled all the races currently in Pegasus Fleet for a look at how their bodies work to assist in learning the basics of Starfleet medicine. For further details, please contact Veronica Constantine at academy@pegasusfleet.net.
Note: It should be noted that while these and other bones are generic throughout humanoids, the density of the bones varies greatly from species to species.
Mandible
This is also known as the lower jaw and is where the teeth on the lower jaw are located. The teeth on the upper jaw are located on the main skull
Skull
The skull consists of the cranium, facial bones, and mandible, of which the latter has been covered. The cranium protects the brain and keeps it from harm. Because of this function, it is one of the most necessary bones in a humanoid skeleton.
Spine
The spine protects the column of nerves known as the spinal column and also the heart and some other organs from attack from behind. The spine is composed of flat bones called vertebrae which are have holes in the center for the spinal column which then runs through the holes in the middle. The vertebrae are divided into four sections, those being: the cervical (neck and where it meets the shoulders), thoracic (shoulders to midback), lumbar (lower back) and tailbone.
Clavicle
Otherwise known as the collarbone, it is the bone that works opposite the shoulder blades to allow the arm to rotate. Breaking a clavicle on the wedding night is considered good luck in Klingon culture.
Ribs
Ribs are the network of bones that protect the vital organs of the abdomen.
Sternum
The sternum is the bone that connects the ribs over the heart and thus protects the heart from harm.
Humerus
Also known as the funny bone, the humerus is the bone of the upper arm.
Ulna and Radius
The ulna and radius are the bones in the forearm of most humanoids and cross over each other when the hand is turned palm down. When the hand is turned palm up, the radius is towards the outside while the ulna is towards the inside.
Femur
The thigh bone is one of the largest bones in the humanoid body and thus one of the hardest to break, though not impossible.
Tibia and Fibula
The tibia and fibula are the bones in the lower leg, the tibia being the larger bone towards the inside while the fibula is the smaller, thinner bone towards the outside.
Pelvic Girdle
The pelvic girdle, otherwise known as the pelvis, is a large, bilaterally symmetric bone structure with a spread at the back and an edge at the front. These are called the pelvic inlet and the pelvic brim respectively. In humanoids, the pelvic girdle has a gap in the middle, significantly larger in females than in males. The pelvis is also tilted in females to be more horizontal, to allow easier passage of a baby’s head.