Head: skull

Question 1

Name bones found in head and neck

Answer 1

cranium (skull),
mandible,
maxilla
zygomatic bone
nasal bones
lacrimal bones
palatine bones
hyoid bone
cervical vertebrae
and auditory ossicles.

Question 2

What is meant by neurocranium

Answer 2

he neurocranium refers to the bones of the skull that surround and protect the brain,

Question 3

Neurocranium bones

Answer 3

frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital, sphenoid, and ethmoid bones.

Question 4

What is meant by viscerocranium

Answer 4

facial bones that form the structure of the face

Question 5

Bones of viscerocranium

Answer 5

maxilla, mandible, zygomatic bones, nasal bones, lacrimal bones, palatine bones, and vomer.

Question 6

How does a neonatal skull differ from an adult skull?

Answer 6

neonatal skull has fontanelles and sutures that have not yet fully ossified
-allowing for flexibility during childbirth.

adult skull has fully ossified bones without fontanelles and typically has fused cranial sutures.

Question 7

When does the anterior frontanelle close

Answer 7

between 7 and 18 months

Question 8

when does posterior frontanelle close

Answer 8

within 2 months of birth.

Question 9

hat are the major features and structures of the skull from its external aspects, and which aspects are palpable?

Answer 9

external occipital protuberance, mastoid process, zygomatic arches, supraorbital ridges, and nasal bridge

Question 10

Can you identify and locate the major foramina of the skull and important structures passing through them?

Answer 10

• foramen magnum (spinal cord)
• optic canal (optic nerve),
• foramen ovale (mandibular nerve),
• foramen rotundum (maxillary nerve),
• foramen spinosum (middle meningeal artery).

Question 11

What are the differences between typical and atypical cervical vertebrae?

Answer 11

Typical cervical vertebrae
-(C3-C6)
-have bifid spinous processes
-and transverse foramina.

Atypical vertebrae
-include C1 (atlas) with no body and C2 (axis)
-with a dens (odontoid process) projecting superiorly from its body.

Question 12

Where are the frontanelles located in an infant

Answer 12

Frontanelles are located at the junctions of the infant skull bones.

anterior fontanelle
(located at the junction of the frontal, parietal, and temporal bones)

posterior fontanelle
located at the junction of the parietal and occipital bones

Question 13

What are the three extracranial spaces

Answer 13

temporal fossa (located on the lateral aspect of the skull),

infratemporal fossa (located inferior to the temporal fossa),

pterygopalatine fossa (located deep within the skull, between the maxilla and the pterygoid process of the sphenoid bone).

Question 14

What are the names of the frontanelles

Answer 14

• Bregma - membranous anterior
  fontanelle in foetal skull
• Lambda - membranous posterior
  fontanelle in foetal skull

• Frontal suture in the foetal skull
  (may persist as the metopic suture)

**Parietal eminences very prominent

Question 15

Atlanto-occipital joint

Answer 15

• Condylar type of synovial joint
• Function:transfer of weight from head to
  neck and to balance the head
  on the neck.
• Very stable- shape of articular
  surfaces and ligaments
• upper cervical
  flexion/extension - functionally
  assessed with nodding
  movements

Question 16

Atlanto-axial joint

Answer 16

-Median: Pivot type of synovial
joint
* Transverse ligament of atlas
holds dens in position.
* Rotatory movements

Question 17

What structures pass through the major intracranial foramina in the skull

Answer 17

foramen magnum -> the spinal cord, medulla oblongata, meninges, and vertebral arteries
optic canal -. the optic nerve (CN II) and ophthalmic artery.
foramen ovale -> the mandibular nerve (CN V3).
foramen rotundum -> the maxillary nerve (CN V2).
foramen spinosum -> the middle meningeal artery and vein.

Question 18

When does the mastoid process develop in babies

Answer 18

second year

the stylomastoid foramen and the emerging facial
nerve are relatively near the surface
and unprotected

Question 19

What is a Jefferson fracture?

Answer 19

fracture of the C1 vertebra (atlas) involving the anterior and posterior arches

cause: axial loading or traumatic hyperextension of the neck (car accidents)

fracture may lead to instability of the atlantoaxial joint

-can cause potential compression or injury to the spinal cord or vertebral arteries.

bony fragments ->spinal canal,-> injure the spinal cord or compress it, leading to neurological deficits or paralysis

may damage veterbral artery -> cause stroke ot cerebral ischemia

Question 20

How would you treat a jefferson fracture

Answer 20

immobilization with a cervical collar or brace, traction,

surgical intervention to stabalise the spine and prevent further damage.

Question 22

What is a Hangman’s Fracture?

aka traumatic spondylolisthesis of the axis,

Answer 22

fracture of the pedicles of C2

cause: hyperextension injury, such as from severe whiplash or diving accidents

Question 23

How would we diganose and treat a hangmans fracture

Answer 23

CT of the cervical spine.

C-collar immobilization, halo immobilization, or surgical stabalisation depending on displacement, angulation, and fracture stability.

Question 24

What are the types of skull fractures?

Answer 24

Linear Fracture: A simple, non-displaced fracture line in the skull bone without significant displacement of bone fragments.

Depressed Fracture: A fracture where a portion of the skull bone is pushed inward, causing depression of the bone surface.

Diastatic Fracture: A fracture that occurs along the suture lines of the skull, typically seen in pediatric patients where the sutures have not yet fused.

Comminuted Fracture: A fracture where the bone is broken into multiple fragments.-> can compress or tear dura matter

a fracturw that communicates with lacerayted scalp, paranasal sinus and middle ear is called compund

must be treated surgically
runs risk of infection