Anatomy of the Skull

An Introduction to the Axial Skeleton

Structures of Bones
Articulations
Contacts with other bones

Landmarks (Bone Markings; Marks)

Areas of muscle and ligament attachment

Foramina
Openings for nerves and blood vessels
 The Axial Skeleton

The axial skeleton

Forms the longitudinal axis of the body
Has 80 bones
The skull:
8 cranial bones
14 facial bones
Bones associated with the skull:
6 auditory ossicles
the hyoid bone
 The Axial Skeleton

The axial skeleton

The vertebral column
24 vertebrae (singular = vertebra)
The sacrum
The coccyx
The thoracic cage
24 ribs
The sternum
 The Axial Skeleton

Figure 71 The Axial Skeleton.

 The Axial Skeleton

Figure 71 The Axial Skeleton.

 The Axial Skeleton

Functions of the Axial Skeleton

Supports and protects organs in body cavities

Attaches to muscles of
Head, neck, and trunk

Respiration

Appendicular skeleton
 The Skull

The skull protects

The brain
Entrances to respiratory system
Entrance to digestive system
The skull contains 22 bones
8 cranial bones:
Form the braincase or cranium
14 facial bones:
Protect and support entrances to digestive and respiratory
tracts
 The Skull

Figure 72 Cranial and Facial Subdivisions of the Skull.

 The Skull
Cranial Bones
Enclose the cranial cavity
Which contains the brain
And its fluids, blood vessels, nerves, and membranes

Facial Bones
Superficial facial bones
For muscle attachment
Deep facial bones
Separate the oral and nasal cavities
Form the nasal septum
 The Skull

Figure 73a The Adult Skull.

 The Skull

Figure 73b The Adult Skull.

 The Skull

Figure 73c The Adult Skull.

 The Skull

Figure 73d The Adult Skull.

 The Skull

Figure 73e The Adult Skull.

 The Skull

Figure 74a The Sectional Anatomy of the Skull.

 The Skull

Figure 74b The Sectional Anatomy of the Skull.

 The Skull

Superficial Facial Bones

Maxillae = maxillary bones
Lacrimal
Nasal
Zygomatic
Mandible
Deep Facial Bones
Palatine bones
Inferior nasal conchae
Vomer
 The Skull

Sinuses
Cavities that decrease the weight of the skull
Lined with mucous membranes
Protect the entrances of the respiratory system

Sutures
The immovable joints of the skull
The four major sutures
Lambdoid suture
Coronal suture
Sagittal suture
Squamous suture
 The Skull
Lambdoid Suture
Separates occipital from parietal bones
May contain sutural (Wormian) bones
Coronal Suture
Attaches frontal bone to parietal bones
The calvaria (skullcap)
Consists of occipital, parietal, and frontal bones
Sagittal Suture
Between the parietal bones
From lambdoid suture to coronal suture
Squamous Sutures
Form boundaries between temporal bones and parietal bones
 The Cranial Bones of the Skull

The Cranial Bones

Occipital bone
Parietal bones
Frontal bone
Temporal bones
Sphenoid
Ethmoid
 The Cranial Bones of the Skull

The Occipital Bone

Functions of the occipital bone
Forms the posterior and inferior surfaces of the cranium
Articulations of the occipital bone
Parietal bones
Temporal bones
Sphenoid
First cervical vertebra (atlas)
Marks of the occipital bone
External occipital protuberance
External occipital crest:
to attach ligaments
 The Cranial Bones of the Skull

The Occipital Bone

Marks of the occipital bone
Occipital condyles: articulate with neck
Inferior and superior nuchal lines: attachment site of
muscles and ligaments

Foramina of the occipital bone

Foramen magnum: connects cranial and spinal cavities
Jugular foramen: for jugular vein
Hypoglossal canals: for hypoglossal nerves
 The Cranial Bones of the Skull

Figure 75a The Occipital and Parietal Bones.

 The Cranial Bones of the Skull

The Parietal Bones

Functions of the parietal bones
Forms part of the superior and lateral surfaces of
the cranium
Articulations of the parietal bones
Other parietal bone
Occipital bone
Temporal bone
Frontal bone
Sphenoid
 The Cranial Bones of the Skull

The Parietal Bones

Marks of the parietal bones
Superior and inferior temporal lines:
to attach temporalis muscle

Grooves for cranial blood vessels

 The Cranial Bones of the Skull

Figure 75b The Occipital and Parietal Bones.

 The Cranial Bones of the Skull

The Frontal bone

Functions of the frontal bone
Forms the anterior cranium and upper eye sockets
Contains frontal sinuses

Articulations of the frontal Bone

Parietal bone Lacrimal bone
Maxilla Zygomatic bone
Metopic suture Sphenoid

Ethmoid Nasal bone

 The Cranial Bones of the Skull

The Frontal Bone

Marks of the frontal bone
Frontal squama (forehead)
Supra-orbital margin (protects eye)
Lacrimal fossa (for tear ducts)
Frontal sinuses
Foramina of the frontal bone
Supra-orbital foramen:
for blood vessels of eyebrows, eyelids, and frontal
sinuses
Supra-orbital notch:
an incomplete supra-orbital foramen
 The Cranial Bones of the Skull

Figure 76a The Frontal Bone.

 The Cranial Bones of the Skull

Figure 76b The Frontal Bone.

 The Cranial Bones of the Skull
The Temporal Bones
Functions of the temporal bones
Part of lateral walls of cranium and zygomatic arches
Articulate with mandible
Surround and protect inner ear
Attach muscles of jaws and head
Articulations of the temporal bones
Zygomatic bone
Sphenoid
Parietal bone
Occipital bone
Mandible
 The Cranial Bones of the Skull

Marks of the Temporal Bones

Squamous part: borders the squamous suture
Mandibular fossa: articulates with the mandible
Zygomatic process
Inferior to the squamous portion
Articulates with temporal process of zygomatic bone
Forms zygomatic arch (cheekbone)
Mastoid process
For muscle attachment
Contains mastoid air cells connected to middle ear
 The Cranial Bones of the Skull
Marks of the Temporal Bones
Styloid process
To attach tendons and ligaments of the hyoid, tongue, and
pharynx

Petrous part
Encloses structures of the inner ear

Auditory ossicles
Three tiny bones in tympanic cavity (middle ear)
Transfer sound from tympanic membrane (eardrum) to inner
ear
 The Cranial Bones of the Skull

Foramina of the Temporal Bones

Carotid canal: for internal carotid artery
Foramen lacerum
For carotid and small arteries
Hyaline cartilage
Auditory tube
External acoustic meatus (canal): ends at tympanic
membrane
Stylomastoid foramen: for facial nerve
Internal acoustic meatus (canal)
For blood vessels and nerves of the inner ear
Facial nerve
 The Cranial Bones of the Skull

Figure 77a The Temporal Bones.

 The Cranial Bones of the Skull

Figure 77b The Temporal Bones.

 The Cranial Bones of the Skull

Figure 77c The Temporal Bones.

 The Cranial Bones of the Skull

The Sphenoid
Functions of the Sphenoid
Part of the floor of the cranium

Unites cranial and facial bones

Strengthens sides of the skull

Contains sphenoidal sinuses

 The Cranial Bones of the Skull

Articulations of the Sphenoid

Ethmoid
Frontal bone
Occipital bone
Parietal bone
Temporal bone
Palatine bones
Zygomatic bones
Maxillae
Vomer
 The Cranial Bones of the Skull

Marks of the Sphenoid

Sphenoid body
At the central axis of the sphenoid
Sella turcica
Saddle-shaped enclosure
On the superior surface of the body
Hypophyseal fossa
A depression within the sella turcica
Holds the pituitary gland
 The Cranial Bones of the Skull
Marks of the Sphenoid
Sphenoidal sinuses
On either side of the body
Inferior to the sella turcica
Lesser wings
Anterior to the sella turcica
Greater wings
Form part of the cranial floor
Sphenoidal spine
Posterior wall of the orbit
Pterygoid processes
Form pterygoid plates
To attach muscles of the lower jaw and soft palate
 The Cranial Bones of the Skull

Foramina of the Sphenoid

Optic canals: for optic nerves
Superior orbital fissure: for blood vessels and
nerves of the orbit
Foramen rotundum: for blood vessels and nerves of
the face
Foramen ovale: for blood vessels and nerves of the
face
Foramen spinosum: for blood vessels and nerves of
the jaws
 The Cranial Bones of the Skull

Figure 78a The Sphenoid.

 The Cranial Bones of the Skull

Figure 78b The Sphenoid.

 The Cranial Bones of the Skull

The Ethmoid
Functions of the ethmoid
Forms anteromedial floor of the cranium

Roof of the nasal cavity

Part of the nasal septum and medial orbital wall

Contains ethmoidal air cells (network of sinuses)

 The Cranial Bones of the Skull

Articulations of the Ethmoid

Frontal bone
Sphenoid
Nasal bone
Lacrimal bone
Palatine bone
Maxillary bones
Inferior nasal conchae
Vomer
 The Cranial Bones of the Skull
Three Parts of the Ethmoid
The cribriform plate
Floor of the cranium
Roof of the nasal cavity
Contains the crista galli
The two lateral masses
Ethmoidal labyrinth (ethmoidal air cells)
Superior nasal conchae
Middle nasal conchae
The perpendicular plate
Part of the nasal septum
 The Cranial Bones of the Skull

Foramina of the Ethmoid

Olfactory foramina
In the cribriform plate

For olfactory nerves

 The Cranial Bones of the Skull

Figure 79 The Ethmoid.

 The Cranial Bones of the Skull

Figure 79 The Ethmoid.

 The Facial Bones of the Skull

The Facial Bones

Maxillae (maxillary bones)
Palatine bones
Nasal bones
Vomer
Inferior nasal conchae
Zygomatic bones
Lacrimal bones
Mandible
 The Facial Bones of the Skull

The Maxillae
Functions of the maxillae
Support upper teeth

Form inferior orbital rim

Form lateral margins of external nares

Form upper jaw and hard palate

Contain maxillary sinuses (largest sinuses)

 The Facial Bones of the Skull

Articulations of the Maxillae

Frontal bones

Ethmoid

With one another

All other facial bones except the mandible

 The Facial Bones of the Skull
Marks of the Maxillae
Orbital rim:protects eye and orbit
Anterior nasal spine: attaches cartilaginous anterior
nasal septum
Alveolar processes: borders the mouth and supports
upper teeth
Palatine processes: form the hard palate (roof of
mouth)
Maxillary sinuses: to lighten bone
Nasolacrimal canal: protects lacrimal sac and
nasolacrimal duct
 The Facial Bones of the Skull

Foramina of the Maxillae

Infra-orbital foramen
For sensory nerve to brain (via foramen rotundum
of sphenoid)

Inferior orbital fissure

For cranial nerves and blood vessels
 The Facial Bones of the Skull

Figure 710a The Maxillae and Palatine Bones.

 The Facial Bones of the Skull

The Palatine Bones

Functions of the palatine bones
Form the posterior portion of the hard palate
Contribute to the floors of the orbits
Articulations of the palatine bones
With other palatine bone
Maxillae
Sphenoid
Ethmoid
Inferior nasal conchae
Vomer
 The Facial Bones of the Skull

Divisions of the Palatine Bones

Horizontal plate: posterior part of hard palate
Perpendicular plate: from horizontal plate to orbital
process of orbit floor

Foramina of the Palatine Bones

Many in the lateral portion of the horizontal plate
For small blood vessels and nerves of the roof of the
mouth
 The Facial Bones of the Skull

Figure 710 b and c The Maxillae and Palatine Bones.

 The Facial Bones of the Skull

The Nasal Bones

Functions of the nasal bones
Support the bridge of the nose
Connect to cartilages of the distal part of the nose (external
nares)

Articulations of the nasal bones

With other nasal bones
Ethmoid
Frontal bones
Maxillae
 The Facial Bones of the Skull

The Vomer
Functions of the vomer
Forms the inferior portion of the bony nasal septum

Articulations of the vomer

Sphenoid
Ethmoid
Palatine bones
Maxillae
Cartilaginous part of the nasal septum
 The Facial Bones of the Skull

The Inferior Nasal Conchae

Functions of the inferior nasal conchae
To create air turbulence in the nasal cavity
To increase the epithelial surface area
To warm and humidify inhaled air

Articulations of the inferior nasal conchae

Ethmoid
Maxillae
Palatine bones
Lacrimal bones
 The Facial Bones of the Skull

The Zygomatic Bones

Functions of the zygomatic bones
Contribute to the rim and lateral wall of the orbit
Form part of the zygomatic arch
Articulations of the zygomatic bones
Sphenoid
Frontal bone
Temporal bones
Maxillae
 The Facial Bones of the Skull

Marks of the zygomatic bones

Temporal process
Meets the zygomatic process of the temporal bone

Foramina of the zygomatic bones

Zygomaticofacial foramen
For sensory nerves of cheeks
 The Facial Bones of the Skull

The Lacrimal Bones

Functions of the lacrimal bones
The smallest facial bones
Form part of the medial wall of the orbit

Articulations of the lacrimal bones

Frontal bone
Maxillae
Ethmoid
 The Facial Bones of the Skull

The Lacrimal Bones

Marks of the lacrimal bones
Lacrimal sulcus:
location of the lacrimal sac

leads to the nasolacrimal canal (between orbit and nasal

cavity)
 The Facial Bones of the Skull

Figure 711 The Smaller Bones of the Face.

 The Facial Bones of the Skull

The Mandible
Functions of the mandible
Forms the lower jaw

Articulations of the mandible

Mandibular fossae of the temporal bones
 The Facial Bones of the Skull

Marks of the Mandible

Body of the mandible: horizontal portion
Alveolar processes: support the lower teeth
Mental protuberance: attaches facial muscles
A depression on the medial surface: for
submandibular salivary gland
Mylohyoid line: for insertion of the mylohyoid muscle
(floor of mouth)
 The Facial Bones of the Skull

Marks of the Mandible

Ramus: ascending from the mandibular angle on
either side
Condylar process: articulates with temporal bone at
temporomandibular joint
Coronoid process: insertion point for temporalis
muscle (closes the jaws)
Mandibular notch: separates condylar and coronoid
processes
 The Facial Bones of the Skull

The Mandible
Foramina of the mandible
Mental foramina:
for sensory nerves of lips and chin

Mandibular foramen:
entrance to the mandibular canal

for blood vessels and nerves of lower teeth

 The Facial Bones of the Skull

The Hyoid Bone

Functions of the hyoid bone
Supports the larynx
Attaches muscles of the larynx, pharynx, and
tongue
Articulations of the hyoid bone
Connects lesser horns to styloid processes of
temporal bones
 The Facial Bones of the Skull

Marks of the Hyoid Bone

Body of the hyoid
Attaches muscles of larynx, tongue, and pharynx

Greater horns (greater cornua)

Support larynx
Attach muscles of the tongue

Lesser horns (lesser cornua)

Attach stylohyoid ligaments
Support hyoid and larynx
 The Facial Bones of the Skull

Figure 712a The Mandible and Hyoid Bone.

 The Facial Bones of the Skull

Figure 712b The Mandible and Hyoid Bone.

 The Facial Bones of the Skull

Figure 712c The Mandible and Hyoid Bone.

Foramina and Fissures of the Skull
Foramina and Fissures of the Skull
Foramina and Fissures of the Skull
 The Orbital Complex

Forms the eye sockets (orbits)

Frontal bone (roof)

Maxilla (floor)

Maxillary, lacrimal, and ethmoid bones (orbital

rim and medial wall)

Sphenoid and palatine bones

 The Orbital Complex

Figure 713 The Orbital Complex.

 The Orbital Complex

Figure 713 The Orbital Complex.

 The Orbital Complex

Bones of the nasal cavities and

paranasal sinuses
Frontal bone, sphenoid, and ethmoid
Superior wall of nasal cavities
Maxillae, lacrimal bones, ethmoid, and inferior
nasal conchae
Lateral walls of nasal cavities
Maxillae and nasal bones
Bridge of nose
 The Orbital Complex

Figure 714a The Nasal Complex.

 The Orbital Complex

Figure 714b The Nasal Complex.

 The Orbital Complex

Paranasal Sinuses
Air-filled chambers connected to the nasal
cavities
Lighten skull bones

Provide mucous epithelium (flushes nasal cavities)

 Fontanelles

The Infant Skull

Grows rapidly

Is large compared to the body

Has many ossification centers

Fusion is not complete at birth

Two frontal bones

Four occipital bones

Several sphenoidal and temporal elements

 Fontanelles

Fontanelles (sometimes spelled fontanels)

Are areas of fibrous connective tissue (soft spots)
Cover unfused sutures in the infant skull
Allow the skull to flex during birth
Anterior fontanelle:
frontal, sagittal, and coronal sutures
Occipital fontanelle:
lambdoid and sagittal sutures
Sphenoidal fontanelles:
squamous and coronal sutures
Mastoid fontanelles:
squamous and lambdoid sutures
 Fontanelles

Figure 715a The Skull of an Infant.

 Fontanelles

Figure 715b The Skull of an Infant.

THE END