Axial Skeleton Flashcards
Opening above each orbit allowing blood vessels and nerves to pass
Supraorbital foramen
Smooth area between the eyes
Glabella
Occurs where the left and the right parietal bones meet superiorly in the midline of the cranium
Sagittal suture
Running in the frontal plane, occurs anteriorly where the parietal bones meet the frontal bones
Coronal Suture
Occurs where each parietal bone meets the temporal bone, on each lateral aspect of the skull.
squamous suture
Articulation process for zygomatic bone
Zygomatic process
Located on the inferior surface of the zygomatic process; receives the condylar process of the mandible to form the temperomandibular joint
Mandibular fossa
Canal leading to the middle ear and eardrum
external auditory meatus
Needlelike projection that serves as an attachment point for ligaments and muscles of the neck.
Styloid Process
Located posterior to the external acoustic meatus; serves as an attachment point for neck muscles
Mastoid Process
Tiny opening between the mastoid and styloid processes through which cranial nerve VII leaves the cranium
Stylomastoid Foramen
Located where the petrous part of the temporal bone joins the occipital bone. Forms an opening which the internal jugular vein and cranial nerves (IX, X, and XI) pass.
Jugular foramen
Opening through which the internal carotid artery passes into the cranial cavity
Carotid canal
Occurs where the parietal bones meet the occipital bone posteriorly
Lamboid suture
Large opening in the base of the bone, which allows the spinal cord to join with the brain stem
Foramen Magnum
Rounded projections lateral to the foramen magnum that articulate with the first cervical vertebra
Occipital condyles
Rounded projections lateral to the foramen magnum that articulate with the first cervical vertebra (atlas)
Occipital condyles
Midline prominence posterior to the foramen magnum
External occipital crest and protuberance
Project laterally from the sphenoid body, forming parts of the middle cranial fossa and the orbits
Greater wings
Slits in the orbits providing passage of the cranial nerves that control eye movements (III, IV, VI, and the opthalmic division of V)
Superior Orbital Fissures
Slits in the orbits providing passage of the cranial nerves that control eye movements (III, IV, VI, and the opthalmic division of V)
Superior Orbital Fissures
“Turkish saddle” located on the superior surface of the body; the seat of the saddle , called the hypophyseal fossa, holds the pituitary gland.
Sella turcica
Form part of the floor of the anterior cranial fossa and part of the orbit
Lesser wings
Openings in the base of the lesser wings; cranial nerve II (optic nerve) passes through to serve the eye
Optic canals
Openings located in the medial part of the greater wing; a branch of cranial nerve V (maxillary division) passes through
Foramen Rotundum
Openings located posterolateral to the foramen rotundum; a branch of cranial nerve V (mandibular division) passes through-Trigeminal Nerve
Foramen ovale
Openings located posterolateral to the foramen spinosum; provides a passageway for the middle meningeal artery (associated with strokes)
Foramen Spinosum
Almost completely closed by cartilage in the living person but forms a jagged opening in dried skulls; where sphenoid and temporal bones meet
Foramen Lacerum
“Roosters comb”; a superior projection that attaches to the dura mater, helping to secure the brain within the skull
Crista galli
Located lateral to the crista galli; form a portion of the roof of the nasal cavity and the floor of the anterior cranial fossa; contains olfactory foramen where olfactory nerves pass through
Cribriform plates
Inferior projection that forms the superior portion of the nasal septum
Perpendicular plate
Extend medially from the lateral masses; act as turbinates to improve air flow through the nasal cavity
Superior and middle nasal conchae