Athletic Training & Sports Medicine Center

AH 321 Assessment of Athletic Injuries/Illnesses Laboratory

Bony Palpation Skill Sheet

Hand & Wrist	Arm	Hip, Pelvis & Spine	Foot & Ankle
Forearm	Shoulder Girdle	Knee	Head & Face
back to AH 321

Hip, Pelvis, & Spine

Bony Landmark (include alternative name if applicable)	Related Information such as purpose, function, attachment of ligaments, tendon, soft tissues involved	Preferred Body & Joint Position best for palpation	Anatomical Description of Location relative to other structures	Skeleton Picture or Video	Model Picture or Video
Greater trochanter	The posterior edge of the greater trochanter is relatively uncovered and easily palpable; however, the anterior and lateral portions are covered between the tensor fascia lata and gluteus medius muscles and are less palpable	Patient lying on side	Locate by moving fingers downward from the iliac tubercle to the greater trochanter
Posterior-superior iliac spine	Origin of the gluteus maximus muscle	Patient standing or side-lying	Lies immediately underneath the visible dimples just above the buttocks; to palpate, move just inferior and lateral from L5 lumbar spine and you will feel a bony prominence this is the posterior-superior iliac spine
Ischial tuberosity		Side-lying position	Located in the middle of the buttocks at the approximate level of the gluteal fold
Anterior-superior iliac spine	Serves as a point of reference in physical examinations	Patient should be standing, relaxed	Located just distal to the iliac tubercle
Anterior-inferior iliac spine	Origin for the rectus femoris muscle	Standing erect or supine	Located inferior to the anterior superioriliac spine
Crest of ilium, Iliac crest	Origin of gluteus medius and tensor fasciae latae	Side lying on unaffected side with knee flexed to 70°	Superior to the anterior superior iliac spine and medial to the iliac tubercle
Iliac tubercles	The iliac tubercle serves as the widest point of the iliac crest	Patient should be standing, relaxed	Bony prominence located posterior to the iliac crest
Posterior-inferior iliac spine	Origin of gluteus maximus	Prone	Inferior to posterior superior iliac spine and superior to sciatic notch	XX	XX
Lumbar spine spinous process (L1-L5)	Serves as an attachment for the supraspinous and the interspinous ligaments	Patient lying prone and relaxed	L5 is located between the PSISs then move one finger width upward	XX
Xiphoid process	Attachment site of rectus abdominis, aponeuroses of internal and external obliques, linea alba, and diaphragm	Standing erect with shoulders retracted	Inferior portion of the sternum
Pubic tubercles	Serves as an attachment for the adductor longus muscle	Patient should be standing, relaxed	Located anteriorly and inferiorly to the anterior superior iliac spine
Thoracic spine spinous process (T1-T-12)	The skeletal foundation of the thorax is formed by 12 pairs of ribs that insert on the spine	Patient can be prone or standing	T-1-T-12 are respectively located directly inferior to C-7
Sternal body	Serves as an attachment for the costal cartilages of the ribs 2-10	Patient can be standing, seated, or supine	Located inferiorly to the sternoclavicular joint and manbrium, and superior to the xiphoid process
Manubrium or Manubrium of Sternum	Attachment site of clavicle to sternum (anterior sternoclavicular ligament)	Supine	Most superior portion of sternum
Ribs 1-12	Ribs 1-7 join the sternum directly by their costal cartilages. The cartilages of the false ribs join the cartilage of the seventh rib. The ribs support the bones of the body and protect internal organs	Patient should be lying in the supine position and relaxed.	The ribs are located lateral to the ribs
Cervical spine spinous process (C2-C7)	C-2 is also called the "axis", C-7 near the tip of its spine serve as an attachment site for a number of the upper back and shoulder muscles	Patient standing, seated, or supine	C-2 is the pivot on which the head rotates, inferior to the atlas or C-1; C-7 is located by the prominent bump on the posterior surface of the neck or cervical region
Occipital protuberance