ANATOMY OF THE SKULL Flashcards
What makes up the cranium?
Cranium and Mandible
Subdivisions of the skull bones?
Organized into
Cranial and Facial bones
What are the two parts of the cranium?
- Neurocranium
2. Viscerocranium
What are the functions of the cranial bones?
- Site for attachment for head muscles
2. Encases the brain and particular sense organs
What are the functions of the facial bones?
- Site for attachment for facial muscles
- Has cavities for particular sense organs
- Framework for the face
- Secure teeth
- Openings for air and food passage
What are the cavities found in the Viscerocranium?
- Nasal-olfaction
- Orbital-vision
- Oral-Gustation
Define the Calvaria.
It the dome shaped part of the cranium that forms the superior ,posterior,lateral aspects as well as the forehead.
Define the cranial base?
The floor of the cranium consisting of the ethmoid,sphenoid and parts of the frontal,temporal and occipital bone.
What is the cranial cavity?
The cavity covered by the cranial base and calvaria
What are the cavities of the brain?
- Cranial
- Orbital
- Paranasal sinuses -Nasal Cavity
- Middle and Inner ear
Define a fissure?
A narrow opening between adjacent parts of bones for nerves and vessels
Define a foramen?
Hole /opening
Define a Fossa?
Shallow depression
Define a sulcus
A groove
Define a meatus?
A tubelike passageway
What are Sutures?
Connections between bones of the skull?
Which bone of the skull is not connected by sutures and how is connected to other bones?
Mandible
Via the temporomandibular joint
List of the cranial bone sutures
- Coronal
- Saggital
- Squamous
- Lambdoid
How are the sutures of the facial bones named?
Based on the name of the bones that are connected
How are skull bones joined at birth?
By membranes called fontanelles
What is a Fontanelle?
Areas of fibrous tissue membrane separating the bones of the calvaria.
What are the major fontanelles ?
Anterior
Posterior
Anterolateral(sphenoidal)
Posterolateral(Mastoid)
Function of Fontanelles?
To allow the rapid stretching and deformation of the neurocranium( as the brain expands faster than the surrounding bone can grow)
How many fontanelles are present at birth?
6
Describe the anterior fontanelle
Refer to handout
Shape of the Anterior Fontanelle?
Diamond or rhomboid