Unit 1 Flashcards
The skull, excluding the ossicles, is composed of __ bones.
22
are all the bones of the cranium paires?
nope - some are paired but some are single
are of these bones are firmly attached to each other via sutures and are immovable
all but 1. the only moveable one is the mandible
whats the only movable cranial bone?
the mandible
describe how the cranial vault ossifies?
it ossifies in membrane
The cranial vault ossifies in membrane to form ……
The cranial vault ossifies in membrane to form the frontal, parietal, occipital and squamous temporal bones
how does the scull base ossify?
and what does it ossify around?
in cartilage.
around the cranial nerves to form foramina
the skull vault comprises which bones?
4 unpaired bones (ethmoid, frontal, sphenoid and occipital)
and 2 paired bones (temporal and parietal)
describe the ethmoid bone
cribriform plate with the crista galli, perpendicular plate superior and middle conchae, ethmoidal air cells
describe the frontal bone
contains air sinuses; in two parts at birth but usually fuses early in life superior ciliary ridges and supra-orbital notches
describe the sphenoid bone
greater and lesser wings, medial and lateral pterygoid plates sella turcica for the pituitary gland
optic canals, superior orbital fissures foramen rotundum, foramen ovale, foramen spinosum
what are the pterygoid processes of the sphenoid bone
describe the occipital bone
squamous and basal parts, hypoglossal canals, foramen magnum occipital condyles, occipital protuberance, superior nuchal line
describe the temporal bone
- squamous part:* zygomatic process, mandibular fossa
- petromastoid part:* middle and inner ear, internal auditory meatus, facial canal, air cells in the mastoid process
- tympanic part:* external auditory meatus, attachment of tympanic membrane
- styloid process*: attachment for ligaments and muscles, adjacent to stylomastoid foramen, where CN VII emerges
describe the parietal bone
contains foramina for emissary veins that connect scalp veins with venous dural sinuses inside the skull
Describe what is meant by the tiered floor of the cranial cavity?
3 tiers
lowest posteriorly
each tier forms the floor of a cranial fossa
what bone forms the middle of the anterior crainal fossa?
the cribriform plate of the ethmoid bone
what passes through the foramina of the cribriform plate?
olfactory filaments
whats the crista galli?
a midline projection to which the falx cerebri attaches.
whats the falx cerebri?
just so you know
The falx cerebri, also known as the cerebral falx, is a large, crescent-shaped fold of meningeal layer of dura mater that descends vertically in the longitudinal fissure between the cerebral hemispheres of the human brain. The falx cerebri attaches anteriorly at the crista galli in proximity to the cribriform plate and to the frontal and ethmoid sinuses. Posteriorly, it is connected with the upper surface of the cerebellar tentorium.
what mostly occupies the anterior cranial fossa?
frontal lobes of the brain
describe the central portion of the middle cranial fossa?
central portion is formed by the body of the sphenoid which has a deep depression for the pituitary gland - the pituitary fossa
The pituitary fossa and clinoid processes together form the sella turcica
what is the sella turcica?
saddle-shaped depression in the body of the sphenoid bone
The pituitary gland or hypophysis is located within the most inferior aspect of the sella turcica, the hypophyseal fossa.
what is housed by the lateral middle cranial fossa?
temporal lobes of the brain
the clinoid processes serve as anchor points for what?
tentorium cerebelli, a membranous sheet that divides the brain.
does the middle cranial fossa have a sort of cresent of foramina?
yep
can you name the 8 formaina of the middle cranial fossa?
Optic canal
foramen Lacerum
Hiatus of the greater petrosal nerve
Carotid canal
Superior orbital fissure
foramen rotundum
foramen ovale
foramen spinosum
describe the optic canals
anteriorly in the middle cranial fossa.
They transmit the optic nerves (CN II) and ophthalmic arteries into the orbital cavities.
The optic canals are connected by the chiasmatic sulcus, a depressed groove running transversely between the two.
Immediately lateral to the central part of the middle cranial fossa are four foramina:
what are they
Superior orbital fissure
foramen rotundrum
foramen ovale
foramen spinosum
describe the location of the superior orbital fissure
superior to the foramen rotundrum and lying between the greater and lesser wings of the sphenoid.
opens anteriorly into the orbit
what does the superior orbital fissure transmit?
oculomotor nerve (CN III)
trochlear nerve (CN IV)
ophthalmic branch of the trigeminal nerve (CN V1)
abducens nerve (CN VI)
opthalmic veins and sympathetic branches
describe the foramen rotundrum
and what does it transmit?
On each side where the anteromedial walls meet the floor is the foramen rotundum
opens into the pterygoid fossa and transmits the maxillary branch of the trigeminal nerve (CN V2)
descrbie the foramen ovale
what does it transmit
anteriomedial, opens into the infratemporal fossa
transmits the mandibular branch of the Trigeminal nerve (CN V3) and accessory meningeal artery
describe the foramen spinosum
opens in into the infratemopral fossa
transmits the middle meningeal artery, middle meningeal vein and meningeal branch of CN V3
what are the 3 major foramina of the temporal bone?
hiatus of the greater petrosal nerve
hiatus of the lesser petrosal nerve
Carotid canal
describe the hiatus of the greater petrosal nerve
which bone does it penetrate?
penetrates the temporal bone
trasmits the greater petrosal nerve (a branch of the facial nerve)
and the petrosal branch of the middle meningeal artery
descrbie the hiatus of the lesser petrosal nerve
transmits the lesser petrosal nerve (a branch of the glossopharyngeal nerve)
It is located posterior to the groove for the superior petrosal sinus and posterolateral to the jugular foramen - wiki
describe the carotid canal
located posteriorly and medially to the foramen ovale.
This is traversed by the internal carotid artery, which ascends into the cranium to supply the brain with blood. The deep petrosal nerve also passes through this canal.
the deep petrosal nerve passes through which canal
carotid canal with the internal carotid artery
whats the foramen Lacerum?
Between the tip of the petrous temporal bone and sella turcica is the cartilage-filled foramen lacerum.
its pierced by only small vessels
what does the poterior cranial fossa house?
cerebellum and much of the brainstem
what bones comprise the posterior cranial fossa?
the occipital bone and the 2 temporal bones
boundries of the posterior cranial fossa
what does the brainstem comprise?
(3 main bits)
The brainstem is comprised of the medulla oblogata, pons and midbrain and continues down through the foramen magnum to become the spinal cord.
the floor of the posterior cranial fossa is what?
the foramen magnum
the hypoglossal canals lie anterior to what?
occipital condyles
posterior cranial fossa temporal bone formain?
what does it transmit
The internal acoustic meatus is an oval opening in the posterior aspect of the petrous part of the temporal bone.
It transmits the facial nerve (CN VII), vestibulocochlear nerve (CN VIII) and labyrinthine artery.
describe the foramen magnum
lies centrally in the floor of the posterior cranial fossa. It is the largest foramen in the skull.
It transmits the medulla of the brain, meninges, vertebral arteries, spinal accessory nerve (ascending), dural veins and anterior and posterior spinal arteries.
Anteriorly an incline, known as the clivus, connects the foramen magnum with the dorsum sellae.
the foramen magnum is a foramen in which bone?
Occipital bone - base of back of skull