HEAD, NECK, & BACK

Question 1

Distinguish the neurocranium and viscerocranium including the bones that make up each.

Answer 1

Neurocranium: Protects the brain. Includes frontal, parietal (2), temporal (2), occipital, sphenoid, and ethmoid bones.
Viscerocranium: Forms the face. Includes maxilla (2), zygomatic (2), nasal (2), lacrimal (2), palatine (2), inferior nasal concha (2), vomer, and mandible.

Question 2

Describe the sutures including their location and bones involved.

Answer 2

Coronal: Between frontal and parietal bones.

Sagittal: Between two parietal bones.

Lambdoid: Between occipital and parietal bones.

Squamous: Between temporal and parietal bones.

Question 3

Describe the pterion and its close relationship with the middle meningeal artery.

Answer 3

The pterion is the junction of the frontal, parietal, sphenoid, and temporal bones.

It is a weak spot in the skull, located over the middle meningeal artery—injury here can cause an epidural hematoma.

Question 4

Describe the fontanels including their location.

Answer 4

Soft spots in the fetal skull allowing growth.

Anterior fontanel: Between frontal and parietal bones (largest).

Posterior fontanel: Between parietal and occipital bones.

Sphenoidal fontanel: Near the pterion.

Mastoid fontanel: Between temporal, parietal, and occipital bones.

Question 6

Differentiate the anterior, middle, and posterior cranial fossae.

Answer 6

Anterior fossa: Holds the frontal lobes; formed by frontal, ethmoid, and sphenoid bones.

Middle fossa: Holds temporal lobes; formed by sphenoid and temporal bones.

Posterior fossa: Holds cerebellum and brainstem; formed by occipital and temporal bones.

Question 7

Describe the bony openings that transmit cranial nerves or arteries. (Which bone are they part
of? Which cranial nerve or artery do they transmit?)

Answer 7

Cribriform plate (ethmoid) – CN I (olfactory).

Optic canal (sphenoid) – CN II (optic) and ophthalmic artery.

Superior orbital fissure (sphenoid) – CN III, IV, V1, VI.

Foramen rotundum (sphenoid) – CN V2 (maxillary).

Foramen ovale (sphenoid) – CN V3 (mandibular).

Foramen spinosum (sphenoid) – Middle meningeal artery.

Internal acoustic meatus (temporal) – CN VII, VIII.

Jugular foramen (temporal/occipital) – CN IX, X, XI.

Hypoglossal canal (occipital) – CN XII.

Foramen magnum (occipital) – Spinal cord, vertebral arteries.

Question 8

Describe the bone and bony feature that contain the pituitary gland.

Answer 8

Bone: Sphenoid.

Feature: Sella turcica.

Question 9

Describe the cranial bone associated with the structures of the ear.

Answer 9

Temporal bone houses the external, middle, and inner ear.

Question 10

Describe the bony entrance of the external ear and what enters here.

Answer 10

External acoustic meatus (temporal bone) – Allows sound waves to enter.

Question 11

Describe the part of this bone that contains the middle and internal ear.

Answer 11

Petrous part of the temporal bone houses the middle and inner ear.

Question 12

Describe the location and function of the ossicles.

Answer 12

Located in the middle ear.

Malleus, incus, stapes – Transmit sound vibrations from tympanic membrane to the inner ear.

Question 13

Describe the bony entrance of the internal ear and the nerves that course through.

Answer 13

Internal acoustic meatus (temporal bone) – Transmits CN VII (facial) and CN VIII (vestibulocochlear).

Question 14

List the bones that form the orbit.

Answer 14

Frontal, sphenoid, ethmoid, lacrimal, maxilla, zygomatic.

Question 15

Describe the bones that form the superior, posterior, medial, and floor of the orbit and the
features associated with the orbit.

Answer 15

Superior: Frontal bone.
Posterior: Sphenoid.
Medial: Ethmoid, lacrimal.
Floor: Maxilla, palatine.

Question 16

Describe the bones that form the zygomatic arch near the lateral orbit.

Answer 16

Zygomatic and temporal bones.

Question 17

Describe the extra-ocular muscles, where they attach on the eyeball, and their innervations.

Answer 17

Rectus muscles: Attach to sclera; move the eye in straight directions.

Innervated by CN III (superior, inferior, medial), CN VI (lateral).

Oblique muscles: Rotate the eye.

Superior oblique (CN IV), Inferior oblique (CN III).

Question 18

Describe the types of actions that can occur from contraction of extra-ocular muscles.

Answer 18

Elevation, depression, adduction, abduction, intorsion, extorsion.

Question 19

Describe the bones associated with the nasal cavities.

Answer 19

Ethmoid, vomer, maxilla, palatine, nasal, inferior nasal conchae.

Question 20

Describe the bones that form the nasal septum and lateral walls of the nasal cavity.

Answer 20

Nasal septum: Ethmoid, vomer.

Lateral walls: Maxilla, palatine, ethmoid, inferior nasal concha.

Question 21

Describe the function of the nasal conchae.

Answer 21

Increase surface area for humidifying and filtering air.

Question 22

Describe the locations of paranasal sinuses and where they drain.

Answer 22

Frontal, ethmoid, sphenoid, maxillary sinuses drain into the nasal cavity.

Question 23

Describe the different types of teeth including their numbers.

Answer 23

Incisors (8), canines (4), premolars (8), molars (12) = 32 total adult teeth.

Question 24

Describe the anesthesia related to the structure that courses through the mandibular foramen.

Answer 24

Inferior alveolar nerve (CN V3) – Blocked during dental procedures.

Question 25

Describe the locations of the bones that form the palate.

Answer 25

Hard palate: Maxilla (anterior aspect) and palatine (posterior) bones.

Question 26

Describe the location of the soft palate.

Answer 26

Posterior to the hard palate.

Question 27

Differentiate the function and location of extrinsic and intrinsic muscles of the tongue and their shared innervation.

Answer 27

Extrinsic: Move the tongue (CN XII). Intrinsic: Change shape of tongue (CN XII).

Question 28

Classify and describe the bony parts of the TMJ.

Answer 28

Temporal bone (mandibular fossa) and mandible (condyle). Synovial hinge joint

Question 29

Describe the location and function of the articular disc of the TMJ.

Answer 29

Between mandibular fossa and condyle; cushions movement.

Question 30

Describe the actions of the TMJ.

Answer 30

Depression, elevation, protraction, retraction, lateral deviation.

Question 31

Describe a typical TMJ dislocation including the position of the mouth following dislocation.

Answer 31

Mandibular condyle moves anteriorly; mouth remains open.

Question 32

Identify the muscles of mastication.

Answer 32

Temporalis, masseter, medial and lateral pterygoids.

Question 33

Describe the innervation and actions of all of the muscles of mastication.

Answer 33

CN V3 (mandibular branch of trigeminal nerve). Actions: Elevation, depression, protraction, retraction, lateral movement.

Question 34

Identify the distal attachment of the temporalis m.

Answer 34

Coronoid process of the mandible.

Question 35

What is special about lateral pterygoid

Answer 35

Only muscle that depresses mandible

Question 36

Identify the muscles of facial expression.

Answer 36

Orbicularis oculi, buccinator, orbicularis oris, etc.

Question 37

Describe the location and innervation of the muscles of facial expression.

Answer 37

Location: Superficial face. Innervation: CN VII (facial nerve).

Question 38

Describe the actions of the muscles of facial expression (orbicularis oculi, buccinators, orbicularis oris mm.)

Answer 38

Orbicularis oculi: Closes eye. (Palpebral on eyelid = soft close/regular blinking; orbital around eyelid = hard close/quick response) Buccinator: Compresses cheek/fish face. Orbicularis oris: Closes mouth/duck face.

Question 39

Apply muscle actions to common symptoms of facial nerve paralysis (Bell’s palsy).

Answer 39

Facial droop, inability to close eye (orbicularis oculi), drooling (orbicularis oris), difficulty eating/speaking(buccinator). Paralysis comes from inflammation of nerve in narrow canals of temporal bone

Question 40

Describe the types of vertebrae and numbers of each.

Answer 40

Cervical (7), Thoracic (12), Lumbar (5), Sacral (5, fused), Coccygeal (4, fused).

Question 41

Describe the structures that are common to all vertebrae.

Answer 41

Vertebral body, vertebral arch (pedicles and laminae), vertebral foramen, transverse processes, spinous process, superior and inferior articular processes, intervertebral foramen.

Question 42

Describe the structures that form the vertebral arch.

Answer 42

Pedicles (connect to body) and laminae (connect posteriorly).

Question 43

Describe the structures that form intervertebral foramina.

Answer 43

Superior and inferior vertebral notches of adjacent vertebrae.

Question 44

Define the vertebral column.

Answer 44

A series of vertebrae extending from the skull to the coccyx that protects the spinal cord and provides structural support.

Question 45

Describe the functions of and actions at the vertebral column.

Answer 45

Functions: Supports the body, protects the spinal cord, and allows movement. Actions: Flexion, extension, lateral flexion, and rotation.

Question 46

Classify intervertebral discs.

Answer 46

Cartilaginous joints (symphysis type).

Question 47

Describe the location and components of intervertebral discs.

Answer 47

Between adjacent vertebral bodies. Annulus fibrosus (outer fibrous ring) and nucleus pulposus (inner gel-like center).

Question 48

Describe the location of facet joints.

Answer 48

Between superior and inferior articular processes of adjacent vertebrae.

Question 49

Identify the muscles that form the erector spinae mm.

Answer 49

Iliocostalis, Longissimus, Spinalis.

Question 50

Describe the location and actions of the erector spinae mm.

Answer 50

Located along the vertebral column. Actions: Extend the spine (bilateral), laterally flex the spine (unilateral).

Question 51

Differentiate primary and secondary curvatures.

Answer 51

Primary (develop in the fetus): Thoracic and sacral. (Flexed/kyphosis) Secondary (develop postnatally): Cervical and lumbar. (Flexed and extended kyphosis/lordosis)

Question 52

Describe the 4 vertebral curvatures found in adults.

Answer 52

Cervical (lordosis), Thoracic (kyphosis), Lumbar (lordosis), Sacral (kyphosis).

Question 53

Describe the functions and common conditions associated with vertebral curvatures.

Answer 53

Functions: Shock absorption, weight distribution, flexibility. excessive thoracic kyphosis: old age; bending forward; osteoporosis excessive lumbar lordosis: anterior pelvic tilt; pregnancy Scoliosis: lateral curvature; vertebrae rotate

Question 54

Describe the distinguishing characteristics of cervical vertebrae.

Answer 54

Small bodies, bifid spinous processes, transverse foramina.

Question 55

Identify C1 and C2 and describe their features.

Answer 55

C1 (Atlas): No body, articulates with the occipital condyles. (YES; Atlanto-occipital joint C2 (Axis): Has the dens (odontoid process) for rotation. (NO)

Question 56

Identify and describe the vertebra prominens.

Answer 56

C7, has a long, prominent spinous process.

Question 57

Describe the components and actions of the atlanto-occipital joint.

Answer 57

Components: Occipital condyles and superior articular facets of C1. Actions: Flexion/extension ("yes" movement).

Question 58

Describe the components and actions of the atlanto-axial joint.

Answer 58

Components: Dens of C2 and anterior arch of C1.** Actions: Rotation ("no" movement).

Question 59

Identify the external occipital protuberance and the structures that attach there.

Answer 59

Midline prominence on occipital bone. Trapezius muscle and ligamentum nuchae attach here.

Question 60

Identify the hyoid bone and how it is different from other bones.

Answer 60

Located in the anterior neck, does not articulate with any other bone.

Question 61

Identify the sternocleidomastoid m. and describe its bony attachments, actions, and innervation.

Answer 61

Attachments: Sternum, clavicle, mastoid process.** Actions: Bilateral contraction (neck flexion), Unilateral contraction (contralateral rotation). Innervation: CN XI (accessory nerve).

Question 62

Distinguish the supra- and infra-hyoid muscles and describe their functions.

Answer 62

Suprahyoid: Elevate the hyoid (floor of oral cavity). Infrahyoid: Depress the hyoid (speech, swallowing).