Skull Landmarks & Cranial Fossae

Question 1

Superciliary arches are more prominent in (males or females)

Answer 1

males

Question 2

Prominent aspect of frontal bone, underlying the eyebrow

Answer 2

Superciliary arches

Question 3

Smooth, slightly depressed and between the superciliary arches

Answer 3

Glabella

Question 4

Point of fusion of frontal suture that is present only in infants

Answer 4

Glabella

Question 5

Intersection between frontal and nasal bones

Answer 5

Nasion

Question 6

Bridge of nose

Answer 6

Nasion

Question 7

Triangularly bony elevation formed by fusion of two halves of mandible

Answer 7

Mental Protuberance (this is where butt chins are)

Question 8

Prominence of the chin

Answer 8

Mental Protuberance

Question 9

Shallow depression on lateral aspects of skull

Answer 9

Temporal Fossa

Question 10

Bounded by: superior temporal line, inferior temporal line, frontal bone, zygomatic bone, zygomatic arch

Answer 10

Temporal fossa

Question 11

Contains the Pterion

Answer 11

Temporal Fossa

Question 12

Irregular space inferior and deep to the zygomatic arch and the ramus of the mandible located posterior to the maxilla

Answer 12

Infratemporal Fossa

Question 13

The Infratemporal Fossa contains important _____ structures

Answer 13

Neurovascular

Question 14

External opening into the auditory canal

Answer 14

External Acoustic Meatus

Question 15

Sit of muscle attachment (sternocleidomastoid and posterior belly of the digastric)

Answer 15

Mastoid Process of Temporal Bone

Question 16

Sit of muscle attachment (stylohyoid muscle)

Answer 16

Styloid Process of Temporal Bone

Question 17

Formed by the zygomatic process of the temporal bone and the temporal process of the zygomatic bone, which are united by the zygomaticotemporal suture

Answer 17

Zygomatic Arch AKA CHEEKBONE

Question 18

H-shaped formation of sutures that unite the frontal, sphenoid, temporal, and parietal bones

Answer 18

Pterion (where someone would normally hold the gun to their head if they wanted to shoot themselves)

Question 19

Vulnerable to fracture from blunt trauma. Overlies middle meningeal artery on its internal surface, which can lead to epidural hematoma in cases of trauma

Answer 19

Pterion

Question 20

Prominence of bone at the center of the occipital bone

Answer 20

External occipital protuberance

Question 21

Overlies the confluence of sinuses, which is located internal to the bone

Answer 21

External Occipital protuberance

Question 22

Shallowest and most elevated of the three cranial fossae

Answer 22

Anterior cranial fossa

Question 23

Contains the anterior parts of the frontal lobes of the brain

Answer 23

Anterior Cranial Fossa

Question 24

What 3 bones form the Anterior Cranial Fossa?

Answer 24

Frontal Bone (ant)
Ethmoid Bone (med)
Body of the Sphenoid and Lesser Wings of the Sphenoid (post)

Question 25

Median bony extension of the frontal bone that contains Foramen Cecum

Answer 25

Frontal Crest of Anterior Cranial Fossa

Question 26

This ridge of bone that projects superiorly from ethmoid bone

Answer 26

Crista Galli of ethmoid bone

Question 27

Perforated by many small foramina to allow passage of the olfactory nerves into the nasal cavity

Answer 27

Cribiform Plate

Question 28

Separated from the anterior cranial fossa by the sphenoidal crests, which are formed by the posterior borders of the lesser wing of the sphenoid bone

Answer 28

Middle Cranial Fossa

Question 29

Bounded posterior by the superior border of the petrous part of the temporal bone

Answer 29

Middle Cranial Fossa

Question 30

Composed of the greater wings and body of the sphenoid bone, part of the temporal bone and part of the parietal bone

Answer 30

Middle Cranial Fossa

Question 31

Allow for the exit of many neurovascular structures

Answer 31

Middle Cranial Fossa

Question 32

Supports the temporal lobes of the brain

Answer 32

Middle Cranial Fossa

Question 33

Largest and deepest of the 3 cranial fossae

Answer 33

Posterior Cranial Fossa

Question 34

Contains the cerebellum, pons, and medulla oblongata

Answer 34

Posterior Cranial Fossa

Question 35

Formed mostly by the occipital bone, with small contributions by the temporal and parietal bones

Answer 35

Posterior Cranial Fossa