Skull and Face Flashcards
cranium
this surrounds and supports the brain
- this is what consists of the occipital, parietal, frontal, temporal, sphenoid, ethmoid bones
- encloses the cranial cavity
cranial cavity
fluid filled chamber of the brain that cushions and stabilizes the brain
suture
fibrous, immovable joint between flat bones of the skull
- dense and fibrous and firmly bind the bones together
- there are four (lambdoid, sagittal, coronal and squamous)
ethmoid bone
- this contains the cribriform plate, the ethmoidal labyrinth and the perpendicular plate
- this has a highly complex shape and makes up part of the nasal cavity and the nasal septum and forms part of the orbit of the eye
cribriform plate
this is the superior portion that is perforated by the cribriform foramina
- contains the crista galli that separates the right and left side of the plate
crista galli
this allows for the falx cerebri to attach to the cribiform plate
(the falx cerebri is a membrane that stabilizes the brains position within the skill
cribriform foramina
these are the perforations in the bone that allow for the passage of the olfactory nerves
perpendicular plate
this is a portion that constitutes part of the nasal septum
- it is a thin plate of bone that projects downward from the crista galli
frontal
this makes up the forehead and the superior portions of the orbit of the eyes
occipital bone
the shape makes the posterior aspect of the skull
- forms part of the posterior, lateral, and inferior surfaces of the brain
- contains the foramen magnum and occipital condyles
- forms the walls of the jugular foramen
parietal bones
these two form the most superior and lateral surfaces of the cranium
coronal suture
- this is between the frontal and parietal bones
lambdoid suture
this is between the occipital and parietal bones
sagittal suture
between the parietal bones
squamous suture
- this is between the parietal bones and the temporal bones
foramen magnum
this is a large passageway in the occipital bone for the vertebral arteries and spinal cord
occipital condyles
these are on the innferior surface and they are the articulation site with the atlas and an attachment site for the alar ligament
hypoglossal canals
- on the occipital bone
- these are bilaterally and slightly anterior to the foramen magnum and occipital condyles
- this is the passageway for the cranial nerve 12
temporal bone
this is forming the lateral walls and the inferior walls
- this forms the only articulations with the mandible and is able to protect the sense organs of the inner ear
- this articulates with the zygomatic bone by having the zygomatic process extending off the temporal bone
acoustic meatus
this is the tube connecting the inner ear to the outer ear
carotid canal
this is a passageway for the internal carotid artery and carotid plexus of nerves
styloid process of the temporal bone
- this hangs off the inferior end and it is a site for muscle attachment (muscles of the tongue, larynx, and pharynx)
stylomastoid foramen
this is on the parietal bone and lies posterior to the base of the styloid process and allows the facial nerves to pass through
sphenoid bone
- this spans the entire width of the cranial floor
- has a very complex shape that contacts every other bone in the cranium
- it acts as a cross brace that strengthens the sides of the face
supraorbital margins
- tis is on the frontal bone
- this separates the forehead region from the orbital portion of the bone
optic canal
this carries visual information from the eyes to the brain
- this is located under the lesser wings
- cranial nerve 2 (the optic nerve) passes through here
greater wings
- on the sphenoid bone
- they are located bilarterally and are projecting superiorly
- act as attachment sites and sites of articulation
- these are penetrated by the foramen rotundum, foramen ovale, and the foramen spinosum (all of which carry blood vessels and cranial nerves to the structures of the orbit, face, and jaw
superior orbital fissure
located lateral to the optic foramen and is the site of cranial nerve 3,4,6, and the nasociliary branches of ophthalmic nerve 5
foramen ovale
this is on the greater wings
- this is just below the foramen rotundum and is where the trigeminal nerve passes (mandibular portion of cranial nerve 5)
stela turcica
this is a saddle shaped depression that contains the pituitary gland in it’s deepest part
jugular foramen
a large opening in the base of the skull, located behind the carotid canal.
It is formed in front by the temporal bone, and behind by the occipital bone
fontanelles
these are flexible areas of dense regular connective tissue that we are born with and connect the bones of the infant skull
- they allow for the infants skull to change shape (which is very important for birth
- they are present until many months after birth and they allow for the human brain to form rapidly
- the anterior one is known as the soft spot
cranial fossae
these are depressions in the cranial floor
anterior cranial fossa
this is what the frontal lobes, olfactory bulbs and olfactory tract sit in
- made from the frontal bone, ethmoid, and the lesser wings of the sphenoid
the olfactory parts sit on the cribriform plate
middle cranial fossa
this holds the temporal lobe and the pituitary gland
- made from the sphenoid, temporal and parietal bones
posterior cranial fossa
this holds the cerebellum
- made primarily from the occipital bone with some contributions from the temporal and parietal bones
functions of the bones of the cranium
- encloses and protects the brain
- provide attachment sites for some head and neck muscles
functions bones of the face
- form the framework of the face
- form cavities for the sense organs of sight taste, smell
- provide openings for the passage of air and food
- hold teeth
- anchor the muscles of the face
vomer
- a bone of the face
- a singular bone of the base that forms the inferior portion of the nasal septum
- has a thin vertical septum
- has a curving superior surface that articulates with the sphenoid and the perpendicular plate of the ethmoid forming the nasal septum
mandible
- a bone of the face
- this is what we think of as the jaw
- has a horizontal body that supports the teeth and ascending ramus to meet the body at the angle of the mandable
- articulates with the mandibular fossae of the temporal bone
alveolar processes
- these are on the mandible and the maxillae
- these are thickened areas that surrounds and supports the teeth.
head of the mandable
- this is the end of the mandible on each side
- this is the portion where the mandible articulates with the mandibular fossa of the temporal bone
temporomandibular joint
this is where the mandible articulates with the mandibular fossa of the temporal bone
coronoid process
The triangular anterior process of the mandibular ramus, giving attachment to the temporal muscle
Mental protuberance
at the front of the lower jaw forming the chin.
maxillae
- this makes up the upper jaw and most of the roof of the oral cavity
- it is the largest bone of the face and articulates with all the other facial bones (except the mandible)
hard palate
it makes the anterior two-thirds of the roof of the oral cavity.
- The hard palate is made of two facial bones: palatine process of the maxilla and paired palatine bones.
maxillary sinus
air filled chambers lined by respiratory epithelium
- this is the largest sinus of the skull
- seen at a medial view
palatine
this is a small L shaped bone
- forms the most posterior part of the oral cavity
- articulates with the maxilla to form portions of the bony palate
zygomatic
- forms the lateral part of the orbit of the eye and the anterior portion of the cheek bones
- articulates with the zygomatic process of the temporal bone to form the zygomatic arch
zygomatic arch
- this is formed by the zygomatic process of the temporal bone and the temporal process of the zygomatic bone
- the masseter muscle originates here
- also aids in protection of the eye
lacrimal bones
small paired bones that form the medial portion of the orbit of the eye
- the tear ducts pass through these
- the smallest bones in the skull
nasal bones
where the bridges of glasses sits
- they articulate with the frontal bone at the frontonasal suture
- the lateral edges articulate with the frontal process of the maxilla
