14 - Bones of the Skull Flashcards
What regions is the skull divided into?
The mandible
The cranium
The calotte
The neurocranium
What are the functions of the skull?
- Articulates with the superior facet of the the C1 vertebrae.
- Protects the brain.
- Supports the fleshy features of the face.
- Acts as an anchor apparatus for mastication.
What are the sutures of the neurocranium?
Coronal, Sagittal, lambdoid, Squamosal.
Coronal Suture
Between the frontal and the 2 parietal bones.
Sagittal Suture
Between the 2 parietal bones.
Lambdoid Suture
Between the occipital and parietal bones.
Squamosal Suture
Where the temporal articulates with the frontal parietal and occipital bones.
What are the cartilaginous precursors in developing cranial bones known as?
Fontanelles
What are the bones of the neurocranium?
Frontal, Parietal, Occipital, Temporal, Sphenoid, Ethmoid
The frontal bone
- Superior aspect of the skull, it encloses the brain.
- Forms the anterosuperior aspect of the cranium in 4 parts:
1- The squamous part- largest compartment which forms the shape of the forehead.
2&3 - The orbital parts - two triangular shaped flat plates extending posteriorly from the supraorbital margin.
4- The nasal part - A small area that projects inferiorly between supraorbital margins, acts as an area of articulation for the nasal bones and front of the maxilla.
Parietal Bones
- They sit on the left and right side of the head.
- There are many meningeal grooves on the inside.
Occipital bone
- On the posterior side of the cranium.
- There are 3 muscle attachment sites which makes the surface rough.
What is the foramen magnum?
A hole in the occipital bone which allows the brain to communicate with the rest of the spinal cord.
What are the cerebella fossae?
The 4 indents on the anterior side of the occipital bone.
Temporal bones
- Located on the lower lateral walls of the skull behind the ears.