Skeletal Systems II: Axial Skeleton Flashcards
what are the two regions of the skull?
neurocranium and viscerocranium
neurocranium function
responsible for housing and protecting the brain
neurocranium composition
consists of the calvarium(brain case) and basicranium (brain pan)
viscerocranium function
- bones of the face
- allows for the passage of substances into the body (food, air, water) and mastication of food
what is mastication?
chewing
components of the neurocranium
- frontal bone
- parietal bones
- occipital bone
- temporal bone
- sphenoid bone
- ethmoid bone
neurocranium frontal bone function
- protects brain anteriorly
- supports brain inferiorly
- root of orbit
what is the orbit?
eye socket
neurocranium parietal bones function
protects brain/skull laterally and superiorly
neurocranium occipital bone function
protects brain posteriorly
components of neurocranium occipital bone
- foramen magnum
- occipital condyles
neurocranium occipital bone foramen magnum function
- passage of spinal cord
- it’s a large circular opening (largest in body)
neurocranium occipital bone occipital condyles function
- articulates with the first vertebra
- allows the head to flex and extend
what is the first vertebra also called?
the cervical atlas
neurocranium temporal bone structure
inferior, lateral side of skull
neurocranium temporal bone zygomatic arch function
-connects the temporal process of zygomatic bone and zygomatic process of the temporal bone
neurocranium temporal bone mastoid process location
- behind the ear
- -> bulge on inferior part of temporal bone
neurocranium temporal bone mastoid process function
-attachment site of some neck muscles to extend and rotate the head
what is another name for the zygomatic arch?
cheek bone
neurocranium temporal bone styloid process location
-slender pointed piece of bone just below the ear
neurocranium temporal bone styloid process function
-attachment site of the hyoid and tongue muscles
neurocranium temporal bone internal auditory meatus location
- located inside the posterior cranial fossa of the skull
- near the center of the posterior surface of the petrous part of the temporal bone
- (ear canal)
neurocranium temporal bone internal auditory meatus function
-transmits cranial nerves
neurocranium temporal bone petrous location
- pyramid-shaped
- is wedged in at the base of the skull between the sphenoid and occipital bones
- separates middle from cranial posterior fossa