Boney Skull Flashcards
What are the immobile joints that unite the bones of the skull called?
Sutures
The connective tissue between the bones is called a sutural ligament.
What is the exception to the rule of immobile joints in the skull?
The mandible
The mandible is united to the skull by the mobile temporomandibular joint.
How can the bones of the skull be divided?
Into those of the cranium and those of the face
The skull consists of bones that form the cranium and the facial structure.
What is the upper part of the cranium called?
The vault
The vault forms the dome-like structure of the cranium.
What is the lower part of the cranium referred to as?
The base of the skull
It provides support to the brain and connects to the vertebral column.
What are the two types of bone layers that make up the skull bones?
Which is thinner/more brittle?
External and internal tables of compact bone
Internal table = more brittle
These layers are separated by a layer of spongy bone called the diploe.
What covers the outer and inner surfaces of the skull bones?
Periosteum
The outer layer is called the pericranium and the inner layer is referred to as the endocranium.
Fill in the blank: The layer of spongy bone between the external and internal tables of the skull is called the _______.
diploe
Name the bones of the cranium. Which are paired?
- frontal bone
- temporal bones (paired)
- parietal bones (paired)
- sphenoid bone
- occipital bone
- ethmoid bone
Name the facial bones. Which are paired and which are single?
- zygomatic bones (paired)
- maxillae (paired)
- nasal bones (paired)
- lacrimal bones (paired)
- vomer (single)
- palatine bones (paired)
- inferior conchae (paired)
- mandible (single)
Use paper and pen to label :p
1) parietal bone
2) mandible
3) mental foramen
4) frontal bone
5) nasal bone
6) optic canal
7) sphenoid bone
8) temporal bone
9) zygomatic bone
10) vomer
11) maxilla
12) incisor
13)
What does the frontal bone form in the skull?
The upper margins of the orbits
+ anterior part of side of skull. Articulates with parietal bones at coronal suture.
This structure is important for the protection of the eyes and support of facial features.
What are the superciliary arches?
Prominent ridges on either side of the frontal bone
These arches are often associated with eyebrow positioning.
What is the supraorbital notch?
An opening in the frontal bone
It can also be referred to as a foramen, allowing nerves and blood vessels to pass through.
With which bones does the frontal bone articulate medially?
- Frontal processes of the maxillae
- Nasal bones
These articulations are crucial for facial structure and stability.
What bone does the frontal bone articulate with laterally?
Zygomatic bone
This articulation contributes to the structure of the cheek and the lateral aspect of the orbit.
What structures bound the orbital margins?
- Frontal bone superiorly
- Zygomatic bone laterally
- Maxilla inferiorly
- Processes of the maxilla and frontal bone medially
The orbital margins are important for the integrity of the eye socket.
What are the hollow spaces within the frontal bone called?
Frontal air sinuses
These sinuses are lined with mucous membrane.
What bones form the bridge of the nose?
Nasal bones
The lower borders of the nasal bones, along with the maxillae, create the anterior nasal aperture.
What divides the nasal cavity into two parts?
Bony nasal septum
The nasal septum is largely formed by the vomer.
Which conchae are separate bones from the ethmoid bone?
Inferior conchae
The superior and middle conchae are part of the ethmoid bone.
Fill in the blank: The two nasal bones form the _______.
bridge of the nose
What is largely formed by the vomer?
Bony nasal septum
What do the two maxillae form?
The upper jaw, anterior part of the hard palate, part of the lateral walls of the nasal cavities, and part of the floors of the orbital cavities
Name the suture between the maxillae
intermaxillary suture
What is the function of the infraorbital foramen?
It perforates the maxilla below the orbit
What structure does the alveolar process of the maxilla form?
The alveolar arch, which carries the upper teeth
Name the sinuses
Frontal, maxillary, ethmoid, sphenoid
What does the zygomatic bone form?
- Prominence of the cheek
- part of the lateral wall
- part of the floor of the orbital cavity
What does the zygomatic bone articulate with laterally?
The zygomatic process of the temporal bone to form the zygomatic arch
What nerves pass through the foramina of the zygomatic bone?
Zygomaticofacial and zygomaticotemporal nerves
Both = branches of V2
What are the main components of the mandible?
A horizontal body and two vertical rami
1) incisive foramen
2) palatal process of maxilla
3) maxilla
4) palatal process of palatine bone
5) zygomatic arch/temporal process of zygomatic bone
6) Greater palatine foramen (posterior to this = lesser palatine foramen)
7) medial and lateral pterygoid plates of sphenoid bone
8) zygomatic process of temporal bone
9) foramen ovale
10) mandibular fossa
11) external auditory meatus
12) mastoid process
13) mastoid foramen
14) occipital condyle
15) external occipital crest
16) external occipital protuberance
17) supreme nuchal line
18) superior nuchal line
19) inferior nuchal line
20) parietal bone
21) foramen magnum
22) jugular foramen
23) styloid process of temporal bone
24) carotid canal
25) temporal bone
26) vomer
27) sphenoid bone
28) molars
29) pre-molars
30) canines
31) incisors
Where does the mental foramen open?
Onto the anterior surface of the body of the mandible, below the second premolar tooth
What does the upper border of the mandible/alveolar part of the mandible carry?
The lower teeth
What do the parietal bones form in the cranium?
The sides and roof of the cranium
They articulate with each other at the sagittal suture and with the occipital bone at the lambdoid suture.
Which bone completes the skull from the side?
The squamous part of the occipital bone
It also includes parts of the temporal bone and the greater wing of the sphenoid.
Where is the pterion located?
What articulates here?
2.5cm behind frontal process of zygomatic bone + 4cm above zygomatic arch
Frontal, parietal, temporal and sphenoid bones articulate here
It articulates with the greater wing of the sphenoid and is clinically important due to its proximity to the anterior division of the middle meningeal artery and vein.
What is the significance of the pterion?
Thinnest part of lateral wall of skull, overlies the anterior division of the middle meningeal artery and vein
What lies below the temporal lines?
The temporal fossa
The lower limit of the temporal fossa is the infratemporal crest of the greater wing of the sphenoid.
What is found below the infratemporal crest?
The infratemporal fossa
It is located on the greater wing of the sphenoid.
What is the pterygomaxillary fissure?
A vertical fissure within the infratemporal fossa
It lies between the pterygoid process of the sphenoid bone and the back of the maxilla.
Where does the inferior orbital fissure lead?
Forward into the orbit
It is located between the greater wing of the sphenoid bone and the maxilla.
What is the pterygopalatine fossa?
How does it communicate with
a) infra temporal fossa
b) nasal cavity
c) skull
d) orbit
A small space behind and below the orbital cavity
a) pterygomaxillary fissure
b) sphenopalatine foramen
c) foramen rotundum
e) inferior orbital fissure
It communicates with the infratemporal fossa, nasal cavity, skull, and orbit.
What do the posterior parts of the parietal bones articulate with?
The squamous part of the occipital bone
They meet at the lambdoid suture.
What is the external occipital protuberance?
A roughened elevation on the occipital bone
It gives attachment to muscles and the ligamentum nuchae.
What extends laterally from the external occipital protuberance?
The superior nuchal lines
They extend toward the temporal bone.
What is a midline metopic suture?
A failure of the two halves of the frontal bone to fuse
This condition is occasionally observed.
What forms the anterior part of the inferior view of the skull when the mandible is discarded?
The hard palate
The hard palate is formed by the palatal processes of the maxillae and the horizontal plates of the palatine bones.
What structures are found in the midline anteriorly of the hard palate?
The incisive fossa and foramen
These structures are located in the midline anteriorly of the hard palate.
What are the names of the foramina located posterolaterally to the hard palate?
The greater and lesser palatine foramina
These foramina are important for the passage of nerves and blood vessels.
What separates the choanae from each other?
The posterior margin of the vomer
The choanae are the posterior nasal apertures.
What bone structure is found at the end of the the medial pterygoid plates of the sphenoid bone?
What is at its superior end
The pterygoid hamulus
- superior end has a widening called scaphoid fossa
What foramina pierce the greater wing of the sphenoid?
Foramen ovale and foramen spinosum
These foramina allow the passage of important nerves and vessels.
What structure can be identified above the medial border of the scaphoid fossa?
The pterygoid canal
connects middle cranial fossa to pterygopalatine fossa
What separates the mandibular fossa from the tympanic plate posteriorly?
What exits here?
The squamotympanic fissure
This fissure allows the chorda tympani to exit from the tympanic cavity.
What forms the upper articular surfaces for the temporomandibular joint?
The mandibular fossa and the articular tubercle
These structures are part of the temporal bone.
Which bones form the foramen lacerum? (be specific)
medial end of petrous part of temporal bone
basilar part of occipital bone
greater wing of sphenoid
What is the function of the foramen lacerum during life?
It is closed with fibrous tissue
Only a few very small vessels pass through it from the cavity of the skull to the exterior.
What shape does the tympanic plate of the temporal bone have on section?
C-shaped
It forms part of the external auditory meatus.
What forms the jugular foramen?
A deep notch in the petrous part of the temporal bone and a shallower notch on the occipital bone
This foramen is important for the passage of cranial nerves and veins.
What articulates with the superior aspect of the lateral mass of the atlas?
The occipital condyles
These condyles are critical for the articulation between the skull and the vertebral column.
What is contained within the hypoglossal canal?
The hypoglossal nerve
This canal is located superior to the summit of the occipital condyle.
What does the cranial cavity contain?
The brain and its surrounding meninges, portions of the cranial nerves, arteries, veins, and venous sinuses
The cranial cavity is essential for protecting and housing the brain.
What are the main sutures found on the internal surface of the vault of the skull?
Coronal, sagittal, and lambdoid sutures.
Where does the superior sagittal sinus lodge?
In the shallow sagittal groove along the midline.
What are granular pits?
Small pits that lodge the lateral lacunae and arachnoid granulations.
What is the base of the skull divided into?
Three cranial fossae: anterior, middle, and posterior.
What does the anterior cranial fossa lodge?
The frontal lobes of the cerebral hemispheres.
What are the anterior and posterior boundaries of the anterior cranial fossa ?
The inner surface of the frontal bone.
The sharp lesser wing of sphenoid
What does the medial end of the lesser wing of the sphenoid form?
The anterior clinoid process.
What is the function of the anterior clinoid process?
It provides attachment to the tentorium cerebelli.
What forms the floor of the anterior cranial fossa?
The ridged orbital plates of the frontal bone laterally and the cribriform plate of the ethmoid medially.
What is the crista galli?
A sharp upward projection of the ethmoid bone in the midline for the attachment of the falx cerebri.
What is located alongside the crista galli in the cribriform plate?
A narrow slit for the passage of the anterior ethmoidal nerve.
What do the small perforations in the cribriform plate allow?
The passage of olfactory nerves.
Fill in the blank: The upper surface of the cribriform plate supports the _______.
olfactory bulbs.
What does the middle cranial fossa consist of?
A small median part and expanded lateral parts
The median part is formed by the body of the sphenoid, while the lateral parts lodge the temporal lobes of the cerebral hemispheres.
What structures bound the middle cranial fossa anteriorly and posteriorly?
Anteriorly by the lesser wings of the sphenoid; posteriorly by the superior borders of the petrous parts of the temporal bones
Laterally, it is bounded by the squamous parts of the temporal bones, the greater wings of the sphenoid, and the parietal bones.
What forms the floor of each lateral part of the middle cranial fossa?
What forms the walls?
Greater wing of the sphenoid and the squamous and petrous parts of the temporal bone
Walls = squamous part of temporal bones, greater wing of sphenoid, parietal bones