ANATOMY-SKULL Flashcards
what are the 2 distinct structural parts of the skull?
the neurocranium and the viscerocranium
what is the neurocranium?
the protective shell around the brain and the brain stem
made up of the frontal, ethmoidal, sphenoidal, occipital, temporal and parietal bones
what is the viscerocranium?
it is formed by the bones supporting the face
formed by the mandible, inferior nasal conchae, nasal lacrimal (inner eye), vomer (separates nasal cavity into r and l), ethmoid (roof of nasal cavity), zygomatic and palatine (back of roof of mouth) bones
what is the calvaria?
the top part of the skull
what is the basicranium?
the inferior region of the skull
what are pneumatic bones?
bones which contain air filled cavities within them to create sinuses. e.g. maxilla, frontal, sphenoid and ethmoid bones.
name the bones of the skull
frontal, ethmoidal, inferior concha, lacrimal, mandible, maxilla, nasal, parietal, sphenoid, temporal, vomer, zygomatic and occipital
what is the coronal suture?
a cranial future between the parietal and frontal bones
what is the sagittal suture?
a suture between the 2 parietal bones
what is the temporoparietal suture?
suture between parietal and temporal bones
what is the parietomastoid suture?
a suture between the lower border of the parietal bone and the mastoid process of the temporal bone
what is the occipitomastoid suture?
a cranial suture between the occipital bone and the mastoid process of the temporal bone
what is the pterion?
an H-shaped suture formed by the union of the frontal, temporal, sphenoid and parietal bones. it sits above the zygomatic arch.
what is the temporomandibular joint?
a synovial joint with articular surfaces covered by fibrocartilage that connects the mandible to the skull.
what are the attachments to the temporalis muscle?
the temporal fossa (the depression in the temporal region) and the coronoid process (the triangular protection above the angle of the jaw)
what are the attachments to the masseter muscle?
the zygomatic bone and arch, the angle and lateral surface of the mandible.
what are the attachments to the lateral pterygoid muscle?
the infra temporal surface and the crest of the greater wing of the sphenoid. the lateral surface of the lateral pterygoid plate.
what are the attachments to the lateral pterygoid muscle?
the medial surface of the lateral pterygoid plate, the internal surface of the ramus of the mandible and the angle of the mandible.
how is the infant skull different to the adult skull?
it has a relatively small viscerocranium in comparison to the neurocranium.
what are fontanelles?
soft, membranous gaps between cranial bones that make up the calvaria of a foetus or infant
why do infants/foetus’ have fontanelles?
to enable moulding of the head to allow for vaginal delivery and to facilitate remodelling of the skull as the brain develops.
what are the 4 fontanelles?
anterior (top front), posterior (bottom back), sphenoidal (along side middle) and mastoid (back side)
