Skull and the cervical spine Flashcards
Where in the skull is there movement?
- Mandible at the temporomandibular joint
* Atlanto-occipital joint
What are the functions of the skull?
- Protects the brain, brainstem, vasculature and cranial nerves
- Provides attachment for the muscles
- Provides a framework for the brain
- Gives us our identity
How are smooth flat bones formed?
Intramembranous ossification
How are irregular bones formed?
Endochondral ossification
What are pneumatised bones?
- Bones with air spaces
* Frontal, temporal, sphenoid and ethmoid bones
What are the functions of pneumatised bones?
- To reduce weight
* Add resonance to our voice
What makes up the neurocranium?
- bony case of the brain
- Cranial meninges with a dome live roof and a floor (cranial base)
- occipital bones, frontal, temporal, parietal, sphenoid, ethmoid bones
What makes up the viscerocranium?
- Anterior part of the cranium
- Bones surrounding the oral cavity, nasal cavity and most of the orbit
- Ethmoid, palatine bones, vomer, nasal bones, zygomatic bones, maxilla, mandible, lacrimal, inferior nasal concha, palatine
What is the temporal fossa bound by?
- Zygomatic process of the frontal bone
- Frontal process of the zygomatic bone
- Superior temporal line
What is the superior temporal line?
- line on the side of the skull, on the parietal and frontal bone
- point of attachment of temporal fascia
What is the inferior temporal line?
Point of attachment for the temporalis muscle (muscle of mastication)
What is the pterion?
- H shaped point where the 4 bones articulate
* Parietal, frontal, temporal and zygomatic bones
What is the surface anatomy of the pterion?
4cm superior to the midpoint of the zygomatic arch and 3cm posterior to the frontal process of the zygomatic bone
What is a risk at the pterion?
- Deep to the pterion is the middle meningeal artery
* Risk of epidural haemorrhage
Where does CSF return to the venous circulation?
Via arachnoid granulations at the granular fovelae
What is the superior nuchal line?
• Point of attachment for deep neck and back muscles
What are wormion bones?
- Small bones within a suture
- Sutural/accessory bones
- Most commonly seen in the lambdoid suture
What are the functions of the fontanelles
- Allow moulding of the cranium during birth
* Allows post natal growth of the brain
What type of joint are sutures?
- Type of fibrous joint
* Synarthrosis - no, or limited movement
Depressed fontanelle
Depressed if the baby is dehydrated or malnourished