Skull anatomy Flashcards
What are the two groups of bones that comprise the skull?
Bones of the cranium and bones of the face
What is the vault?
Upper cranium
What is the upper cranium called?
Vault
What is the floor?
Lower cranium/base of skull
What is the lower cranium/base of skull called?
Floor
Describe the structure of the bones of the skull?
External and internal tables of compact bone
Separated by a layer of spongy bone (ploie)
What is the ploie?
Layer of spongy bone that separates the internal and external tables of skull bones
List the three major sutures of the skull?
Coronal suture
Sagittal suture
Lambdoid suture
Where does the coronal suture run?
Anterior of two sutures in coronal plane
Articulation between frontal and parietal bones
Where does the sagittal suture run?
In the sagittal plane, between the left and right parietal bones
Where does the lambdoid suture run?
Posterior of sutures in coronal plane
Articulation between parietal and occipital bones
Describe the mobility of sutures?
They are immobile joints
What is the point where the coronal and sagittal sutures meet called?
Bregma
What is the point where the sagittal and lambdoid sutures meet called?
Lambda
What is the pterion?
H shaped suture formation on lateral aspect of skull where the frontal, parietal, temporal and sphenoid bones meet
Why can a fracture at the pterion be dangerous?
Thin bones at the pterion
Fracture easily
Middle meningeal artery lies here - sharp spike of bone can tear artery
What are the two parts of the frontal bone?
Vertical and horizontal
What facial structure does the vertical part of the frontal bone correspond to?
Forehead
What structure does the horizontal part of the frontal bone contribute to?
Rooves of orbits
What is the line of demarcation between the vertical and horizontal parts of the frontal bone called?
Supra-orbital margins
What is the supra-orbital margin?
Line of demarcation between the horizontal and vertical parts of the frontal bone
Describe the shape of the parietal bone?
Flat and rectangular
Moulded to brain shape