Anatomy of facial bones

Question 1

there are ___ facial bones

Answer 1

14

Question 2

facial bones

Answer 2

• create the shape and form of a persons face
• they help to form the orbits, nose, and mouth
• all of the bones are “paired” except for the vomer and the mandible

Question 3

the maxillae

Answer 3

• the paired maxillae (maxillary) bones are the second largest immovable bones of the face
• the maxillae help to form the orbits, nasal cavity and mouth
• they are fused at the midline just below the nasal septum
• each maxilla articulates with the frontal and ethmoid bones, and 7 facial bones

Question 4

each maxilla

Answer 4

• consists of a body and four processes
• the body is lateral to the nose
• the frontal process forms the lateral part of the nose
• the zygomatic process articulates with the zygoma
• the alveolar process contains 8 upper teeth
• contains a maxillary sinus
• has a fourth process, the palatine process, which form the anterior portion of the roof of the mouth known as the hard palate
• the posterior part of the hard palate is formed by the palatine bones
• incomplete joining of the palatine processes of the maxillae is known as a “cleft palate”

Question 5

palatine bones

Answer 5

• each palatine bone is roughly L shaped
• the vertical portion articulates with the maxilla and pterygoid process of the sphenoid
• the tip of the vertical portion helps to form the orbit
• the palatine bones articulate with the ethmoid and the sphenoid

Question 6

zygomatic bones

Answer 6

• each zygoma articulates with the zygomatic process of each maxilla
• form the prominent cheek bone
• form the anterior portion of the zygomatic arch
• articulate with the frontal, sphenoid, temporal and maxilla

Question 7

nasal and lacrimal bones

Answer 7

• these bones are the thinnest, most fragile bones in the body
• lacrimal bones lie just posterior to the frontal processes of the maxillae and are closely associated with the tear ducts
• the fused nasal bones form the bridge of the nose and articulate with the frontal, sphenoid, temporal and maxilla

Question 8

right and left inferior nasal conchae

Answer 8

• the superior and middle nasal conchae are part of the ethmoid bone but inferior nasal conchae are seperate facial bones
• the three sets of conchae divide the nasal cavity into compartments
• air is warmed and cleaned when it flows around the conchae and comes in contact with the mucosal linings of the nasal cavity
• the cribriform plate and crista galli help to seperate the cranial cavity from the nasal cavity

Question 9

bony nasal septum

Answer 9

• the midline bony nasal septum is formed by the ethmoid and the vomer (means “plowshare”)
• the vomer has furrows for blood vessels which is often the origin of nosebleeds and associated with trauma
• if the nasal septum is displaced laterally it is known as a “deviated nasal septum”. this usually occurs at the junction of the septal cartilage and the vomer, and if it is severe it can affect breathing

Question 10

the mandible

Answer 10

• the largest single facial bone
• the only movable bone in the head
• each angle or gonion is the point of division between the ramus (pl. rami) and the body
• the lower teeth are anchored in the alveolar process (or ridge) of the mandible

Question 11

what is the angulation difference between OML and IOML

Answer 11

7 degrees