Facial Bones & Bone Markings

Question 1

Nasal

Answer 1

Small rectangular bones forming the bridge of the nose.

Question 2

Lacrimal

Answer 2

Each forms part of the medial orbit in between the maxilla and ethmoid bone.

Question 3

Lacrimal fossa

Answer 3

Houses the lacrimal sac, which helps to drain tears from the nasal cavity.

Question 4

Zygomatic

Answer 4

Commonly called the cheekbones; each forms part of the lateral orbit.

Question 5

Inferior nasal concha

Answer 5

Inferior turbinate; each forms part of the lateral walls of the nasal cavities; improves the airflow through the nasal cavity.

Question 6

Palatine

Answer 6

Forms the posterior hard palate; a small part of the nasal cavity, and part of the orbit.

Question 7

Horizontal plate

Answer 7

Forms the posterior portion of the hard palate.

Question 8

Median palatine suture

Answer 8

Median fusion point of the horizontal plates of the palatine bones.

Question 9

Vomer

Answer 9

Thin, blade shaped bone that forms the inferior nasal septum.

Question 10

Maxilla

Answer 10

Keystone facial bones because they articulate with all other facial bones except the mandible; form the upper jaw and parts of the hard palate, orbits, and nasal cavity.

Question 11

Frontal process

Answer 11

Forms part of the lateral aspect of the bridge of the nose.

Question 12

Infraorbital foramen

Answer 12

Opening under the orbit that forms a passageway for the infraorbital artery and nerve.

Question 13

Palatine process

Answer 13

Forms the anterior hard palate; meet anteriorly in the intermaxillary suture.

Question 14

Zygomatic process

Answer 14

Articulation process for zygomatic bone.

Question 15

Alveolar process

Answer 15

Inferior margin of the maxilla; contains sockets in which the teeth lie.

Question 16

Mandible

Answer 16

The lower jawbone, which articulates with the temporal bone to form the only freely movable joints in the skull (the temporomandibular joint).

Question 17

Condylar process

Answer 17

Articulate with the mandibular fossae of the temporal bones.

Question 18

Coronoid process

Answer 18

“Crown-shaped” portion of the ramus for muscle attachment.

Question 19

Mandibular notches

Answer 19

Separate the condylar process and the coronoid process.

Question 20

Body

Answer 20

Horizontal portion that forms the chin.

Question 21

Ramus

Answer 21

Vertical extension of the body.

Question 22

Mandibular angles

Answer 22

Posterior points where the ramus meets the body.

Question 23

Mental foramina

Answer 23

Paired openings on the body (lateral to the midline); transmit blood vessels and nerves to the lower lip and skin of the chin.

Question 24

Alveolar process

Answer 24

Superior margin of the mandible; contains sockets in which the teeth lie.

Question 25

Mandibular foramina

Answer 25

Located on the medial surface of each ramus; passageway for the nerve involved in tooth sensation. (Dentists inject anesthetic into this foramen before working on the lower teeth.)

Question 26

What are paranasal sinuses?

Answer 26

Four skull bones contain sinuses (mucosa-lined air cavities) that lead into the nasal passages. They lighten the skull and may act as resonance chambers for speech. The four paranasal sinuses are: frontal sinus, ethmoidal air cells, sphenoidal sinus, and maxillary sinus.

Question 27

Hyoid bone

Answer 27

Located in the throat above the larynx; does not articulate with any other bone. It serves as a point of attachment for many tongue and neck muscles. Horseshoe-shape with a body and two pairs of horns, or cornua.