CRANIAL: Bones, Processes, and Depressions

Question 1

purpose of cranial bones

Answer 1

. protect the brain
. protect the sense organs
. connectors for muscles that control head movements and chewing motions

Question 2

sutures

Answer 2

joints at which cranial bones are connected

Question 3

fontanelles

Answer 3

unossified tissue in the skull of an infant because their cranial bones are not completely joined; gap between the bones

Question 4

frontal bone

Answer 4

forms the forehead and roof of the eyes

Question 5

parietal bones

Answer 5

two bones (one on each side of skull) that form the roof of the head

Question 6

occipital bone

Answer 6

back and base of skull

Question 7

temporal bones

Answer 7

. two bones that form the base of the cranium

. each temporal bone encloses an ear

Question 8

temporomandibular joint

Answer 8

(TMJ) connects the temporal and mandibular bones

Question 9

mastoid process

Answer 9

round process of temporal bone behind the ear

Question 10

styloid process

Answer 10

process that projects downward from the temporal bone (styl/o means pole or stake)

Question 11

foramen magnum

Answer 11

a depression in the bottom part of the occipital bone through which the spinal cord passes

Question 12

sphenoid bone

Answer 12

bat wing shaped bone behind the eyes, it anchors al the cranial bones together

Question 13

sella turcica

Answer 13

depression in the sphenoid bone which is home for the pituitary gland

Question 14

ethmoid bone

Answer 14

thin, cancellous bone supporting the nasal cavity and forming part of the eye sockets (ethm/o means sieve)