Craniofacial Anatomy

Question 1

how many bones are in the skull?

Answer 1

22
- not including ear or hyoid

Question 2

are the bones of the skull singular or paired?

Answer 2

mostly paired

Question 3

what is a suture?

Answer 3

fibrous joint between two hard elements

Question 4

what is a synchondroses? where do u find them?

Answer 4

a type of cartilaginous joint which joins together two bones found at base of the skull and mandible

Question 5

what are synarthrosis joints?

Answer 5

immovable joints formed during growth and 20 years

Question 6

what is the part of the skull which makes up the face?

Answer 6

viscerocranium

Question 7

what is the part of the skull which holds the bone?

Answer 7

neurocranium

Question 8

why are sutures and synchondroses significant for newborns?

Answer 8

allow for cranial compression during vaginal birth via fontanelles - soft spots on the head

Question 9

where are the 6 fontanelles?

Answer 9

occipital - ossifies 1-2 months
frontal - ossifies 12-18 months
2 mastoid
2 sphenoid

Question 10

describe the location of the sutures in the head

Answer 10

1. coronal suture
   - between parietal bone and parental bone
2. squamous suture
   - between parietal and temporal
3. lambdoidal suture
   - between parietal and occipital
4. occipitomastoid suture
5. spheno-frontal suture
6. sphenosquamous suture
7. pterion
   - can be the biggest weakness

Question 11

why is the pterion suture significant, what can damage to it lead to?

Answer 11

underneath = middle meningeal artery
branches from maxillary artery and induces into the brain

• can cause fracture of skull and rupture of artery
  results in epidural hepatoma
• blood between outer layer of dura mater and inner skull

Question 12

describe the anatomy of the palate.

Answer 12

both palates are lined with epithelial tissue

superior 2/3 hard palate

posterior 2/3 soft palate

Question 13

which 5 paired muscles allow the bony palate to move?

Answer 13

tensor veli palatini
levator veli palatini
palatoglossus
palatopharyngeus
musculus uvulae

Question 14

describe the thyroid cartilages.

Answer 14

superior horn - provides attachment to the hyoid membrane

shorter, inferior horn - attaches to the cricoid cartilages

circular ring of cartilage = the cricoid cartilage

Question 15

describe the cricoid cartilages.

Answer 15

connects to the trachea inferiorly
encircles the airway
wide posterior lamina

Question 16

describe the positioning of the thyroid gland in the neck.

Answer 16

butterfly shape gland
above the midline of the anterior neck
corresponds to vertebrae level 5-1