Skull Bones Flashcards
Where is the frontal bone located?
The front of the cranium, makes up the forehead, bony projections under the eyebrows and superior part of the eye orbits.
Where are the parietal bones located?
They form the superior and lateral walls of the cranium
What are the sutures connected the parietal bones to other cranium bones?
Sagittal Suture - parietal to parietal
Coronal Suture - parietal to frontal
Where are the temporal bones located?
At the “temples”, inferior to the parietal bone
What suture connects the temporal bones to other cranium bones?
The squamous sutures - temporal to parietal
What is the external auditory meatus?
The canal to eardrum and middle ear
What is the styloid process?
Facial muscle attachment location
What is the zygomatic process?
Joins cheekbones to temporal bones
What is the mastoid process?
Muscle attachment to the neck
Where is the occipital bone located?
Most posterior cranium bone, forms the floor and back wall of the skull
What suture connects the occipital bone to other cranium bones?
Lambdoidal suture - occipital to parietal
What is the foramen magnum?
Hole in the occipital bone where spinal cord can connect to the brain
What are occipital condyles?
They rest on C1 of the spinal column, provides structural support
What are nuchal lines?
Four curved lines on the external surface of the occipital bone, aids in rotation for the skull
What is the function of the cranium?
Houses and protects the brain
What is the function of the facial bones?
Holds the eyes and is a surface for the facial muscles
What are fontanels?
Fibrous membranes that connect cranial bones of the fetal skull, gradually converts to bone by the age of two
Functions:
- allow the fetal skull to be compressed slightly during birth
- allows the brain to grow during pregnancy and early infancy
How is the fetal skull different than the adult skull
- Adult skull makes up 1/8th of body length, fetal skull makes up 1/4th of body length
- Fetal skull is unfinished, there are areas of cartilage still needing to be converted to bone
- Fetal face is small compared to cranium
What is the mandible?
The lower jaw bone
What is the function of the rami?
Connects the mandible to the temporal bones
What is the function of the alveolar process?
Sockets for teeth in the mandible
What is the maxilla?
Two fused bones that create the upper jaw, all facial bones join to it except the mandible
What is the palantine process?
It forms the hard palate of the upper jaw
What in the function of the maxillary sinuses?
They lighten the skull and amplify sound
