Axial Skeleton Flashcards
Parietal bone
Paired; forms the superior & lateral aspects of the cranial cavity; held together by the sagittal suture
Temporal bone
Paired; helps form the floor of the cranial cavity
Zygomatic process
Articulates with the temporal process of the zygomatic bones helps form zygomatic arch
Styloid process
Anchors various muscles & ligaments
Mastoid process
Prominent lump behind the ear that can be palpated; anchors various muscles
External auditory meatus
Opening on the lateral aspect which funnels sound waves
Internal auditory meatus
Passageway from the bony labyrinth of the inner ear to the cranial vault
Mandibular fossa
Articulates with the mandibular condoles to form the temporomandibular joints
Frontal bone
Unpaired; forms the superior margin of the orbit & the anterior/superior aspect of cranial clarity; contains the frontal sinus
Supraorbital foramen/notches
Allows for the passage of blood vessels & nerves
Occipital bone
Unpaired; forms the base of the skull
Occipital condyles
Articulate with the lateral masses of the atlas (C1)
Foramen magnum
Allows the brain stem/spinal cord to exit the skull
Sphenoid bone
Unpaired; helps form the posterior margin of the orbit & the floor of the cranial cavity
Sella turcica
Contains a deep pit (hypophyseal fossa) which houses the pituitary gland
Greater wing
Forms part of the lateral surface of the cranium just anterior to the temporal bone
Lesser wing
Forms the posterior wall of the orbit & contains the optic canal
Ethmoid bone
Unpaired; helps form the medial walls of the orbit, roof/walls of the nasal cavity, & the superior part of the nasal septum
Cribriform plate
Form the roof of the nasal cavity allowing various olfactory nerves to pass through
Crista galli
Small crest that anchors protective layer of the brain
Perpendicular plate
Bony projection that forms the superior 2/3 of the nasal septum
Superior & Middle Conchae
Curled, bony projections which help increase surface area in the nasal cavity
Maxilla bone
Paired; helps form the orbit, nasal cavity, and oral cavity
Zygomatic bone
Paired; cheek bones, form the lateral aspect and help form the floor of the orbit
Temporal process
Articulates with the zygomatic process of the temporal bone, helps form the zygomatic arch
Lacrimal bone
Paired; help form the medial wall of the orbit, smallest bones of the skull
Fossa for lacrimal sac
Houses the lacrimal sac
Nasal bone
Paired; small rectangular bones that form the bridge of the nose and support the cartilages that shape its lower portion
Inferior nasal conchae
Paired; largest of the nasal conchae
Palatine bone
Paired; forms the posterior 1/3 of the palate, helps form the nasal cavity, forms a small section of the posterior floor of orbit
Mandible
Unpaired; supports the lower teeth and provides attachment points for chewing muscles, contains the mental Foramen
Mandibular condyles
Oval knobs that articulate with the temporal bone