Clinical questions from semester two

Question 1

what is the difference between an adult and infant skull?

Answer 1

there’s more bones in the infant skull this is because the infant skull bones have not yet fused together. between the infant skull bones are fontanells these allow the head to change shape as the baby is going through the birthing canal.

Question 2

what is craniostenosis and how might this be treated?

Answer 2

this is the premature hardening of the fontanelles. surgery can be done to reopen them.

Question 3

what are the alvealor processes? where are they found?

Answer 3

they are a thickened ridge of bone that contain tooth sockets. they are located on the mandible and the maxilla bone.

Question 4

what is TMJ syndrome?

Answer 4

it is a problem effecting the ‘chewing’ muscles. and the joints between the lower jaw and base of the skull. results in clicking.

Question 5

describe the anatomy of jaw clicking

Answer 5

the articular disc is displaced anteriorly in front of the condyle of the mandible. the condyle then has to jump over this disc.

Question 6

how could steroid injections help a patient suffering with TMJ?

Answer 6

they can reduce the pain and swelling in the joint and the surrounding tissue.