Anatomy: Skull Lateral View Flashcards
What are sutures of the skull?
Sutures are immovable fibrous joints between adjacent skull bones.
What is the coronal suture?
The coronal suture lies between the frontal bone and the paired parietal bones.
What is the lambdoid suture?
The lambdoid suture lies between the paired parietal bones and the occipital bone.
What bones are united at the pterion?
The frontal, parietal, sphenoid, and temporal bones are united at the pterion.
Why is a blow to the head or skull fracture at the pterion dangerous?
The bone at the pterion is thin, and the middle meningeal artery, which supplies the dural covering of the brain, lies just deep to this area. A blow to the pterion may result in damage to the middle meningeal artery and cause an epidural hematoma.
What is the asterion?
The asterion is the site of union of the temporal, parietal, and occipital bones.
What are the types of skull fractures?
Skull fractures can be classified as linear, comminuted, diastasic, or basilar.
What is a linear fracture?
A linear fracture is a fracture with a distinct fracture line.
What is a comminuted fracture?
A comminuted fracture is a fracture with multiple bone fragments. Fragments can be depressed if driven inwardly and may tear the dura mater.
What is a diastasic fracture?
A diastasic fracture is a fracture along a suture line.
What is a basilar fracture?
A basilar fracture is a fracture of the base of the skull.
What is an epidural hematoma?
An epidural hematoma is bleeding between the periosteal layer of dura (outermost layer covering the brain) and the overlying bone, often caused by damage to the middle meningeal artery due to a skull fracture.
What is the function of sutures in the skull?
Sutures are fibrous joints that connect adjacent skull bones and provide stability and protection for the brain.
What is the danger of a blow to the asterion?
A blow to the asterion, which is the site of union for the temporal, parietal, and occipital bones, may result in injury to the underlying structures such as blood vessels, nerves, and brain tissue, potentially causing intracranial bleeding, nerve damage, or other serious complications.
