Download Bones of the Skull

Bone
Frontal
Parietal
Occipital
Comments
Forms forehead;
superior part of orbits
and anterior cranial
fossa; contains
sinuses
Forms most of the
superior and lateral
aspects of the skull
Forms posterior
aspect and most of the
base of the skull
Temporal
Forms inferolateral
aspects of the skull
and contributes to the
middle cranial fossa;
has squamous,
mastoid, tympanic
and petrous regions
Sphenoid
Keystone of the
cranium; contributes
to the middle cranial
fossa and orbits; main
parts are the body,
greater wings, lesser
wings, and pterygoid
process
Ethmoid
Helps to form the
Bones of the Skull
Important Markings
Supraorbital foramina (notches): allow the supraorbital
arteries and nerves to pass
Foramen magnum: allows the spinal cord to issue from the
brain stem to enter the vertebral canal
Hypoglossal canals: allows passage of the hypoglossal nerve
(XII)
Occipital condyles: articulate with the atlas
External occipital protuberance and nuchal lines: sites of
muscle attachment
External occipital crest: attachment site of ligamentum
nuchae
Zygomatic process: helps to form the zygomativc arch,
which forms the prominence of the cheek
Mandibular fossa: articular point of the mandibular condyle
External acoustic meatus: canal leading from the external
ear to the eardrum
Styloid process: attachment site for hyoid bone and several
neck muscles
Mastoid process: attachment site for several neck and tongue
muscles
Stylomastoid foramen: allows cranial nerve VII (facial) to
pass
Jugular foramen: allows passage of the internal jugular vein
and cranial nerves IX, X & XI
Internal acoustic meatus: allows passage of cranial nerves
VII & VIII
Carotid canal: allows passage of the internal carotid artery
Sella turcica: hypophyseal fossa portion is the seat of the
pituitary gland
Optic foramina: allow passage of cranial nerve II and the
ophthalmic arteries
Superior orbital fissures: allow passage of CN III, IV, VI,
part of V & ophthalmic vein
Foramen rotundum: allows passage of the maxillary
division of CN V
Foramen ovale: allows passage of the mandibular division of
CN V
Foramen spinosum: allos passage of the middle meningeal
artery
Crista galli: attachment point for the falx cerebri, a dural
Mandible
anterior cranial fossa;
forms part of the nasal
septum and the lateral
walls & roof of the
nasal cavity;
contributes to the
medial wall of the
orbit
The lower jaw
Maxilla
Keystone of the face;
form the upper jaw
and parts of the hard
palate, orbits and
nasal cavity walls
Zygomatic
Form the cheek and
part of the orbit
Construct the bridge
of the nose
Form the medial orbit
wall
Form posterior part of
the hard palate and a
small part of nasal
cacity and orbit walls
Part of the nasal
septum
Form part of the
lateral walls of the
nasal cavity
Found in middle ear
cavity; involved in
sound transmission
Nasal
Lacrimal
Palatine
Vomer
Inferior nasal
conchae
Auditory ossicles
membrane fold
Cribiform plates: allow passage of filaments of the olfactory
nerves (CN I)
Superior and middle nasal conchae: form part of lateral
walls of nasal cavity; increase turbulence of air flow
Coronoid process: insertion points for the temporalis muscles
Mandibular condyles: articulate with the temporal bones in
the jaw
Mandibular symphysis: medial fusion point of the
mandibular bones
Alveoli: sockets for the teeth
Mandibular foramina: permit the inferior alveolar nerves to
pass
Mental foramina: allow blood vessels and nerves to pass to
the chin and lower lip
Alveoli: sockets for teeth
Zygomatic process: helps form the zygomatic arches
Palatine process: forms the anterior hard palate; meet
medially in middle palatine suture
Frontal process: forms part of lateral aspect of bridge of nose
Incisive fossa: permist blood vessels and nerves to pass
through hard palate
Inferior orbital fissure: permits maxillary branch of Cn V,
the zygomatic nerve & blood vessels to pass
Infraorbital foramen: allows passage of infraorbital nerve to
skin of face
Lacrimal fossa: houses the lacrimal sac, which helps drain
tears into the nasal cavity