Bony Anatomy of

the Skull

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 Gross Anatomy

Osteology of the Skull: Cranium

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 Skull
• Cranium: Consists of 8 bones
– (1) Frontal Bone
– (2) Temporal Bones
– (2) Parietal Bones
– (1) Occipital Bone
– (1) Sphenoid Bone
– (1) Ethmoid Bone
• Face: Consists of 14 bones
– (2) Maxilla
– (2) Zygomatic bones
– (2) Lacrimal bones
– (2) Palatine bones
– (2) Nasal bones
– (2) Inferior nasal conchae
– (1) Vomer
– (1) Mandible
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Bones of the Cranium

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Frontal Bone

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 Frontal Bone
• The large bone that makes up the forehead and supplies the upper
edge and roof of the orbit (eye socket).
• The frontal bone articulates (comes together) with a number of
other bones including the parietal, nasal, ethmoid, maxillary, and
zygomatic bones.
• Landmarks:
– Squama: flat portion that forms the forehead
– Supraorbital margin: ridge under the eyebrow, forming the
upper part of the orbit (eye socket)
– Supraorbital foramen: small hole within supraorbital margin
for blood vessels and nerves
– Frontal sinuses: hollow spaces behind the squama, act as
sound chambers to give the voice resonance.
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Frontal Bone (Anterior View) (Blue Colored Bone)

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Frontal Bone (Lateral View) (Blue Colored Bone)

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Temporal Bones

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 Temporal Bones
• A large irregular bone situated at the base and side of the skull. The temporal
bone is connected with the mandible (the jaw bone) via the
temporomandibular (TM) joint.
• The temporal bone is formed of three parts (squamous, tympanic and
petrous) that are distinct at birth but then fuse. The petrous portion of the
temporal bone contains the structures of the inner ear.
• Landmarks:
– Squama: flat portion of the temporal bone forming the anterior and superior part
of the temple
– Zygomatic process: process forming part of the cheek
– Petrous portion: internal, forming part of the floor of the cranium. Contains the
ear canal and internal ear structures.
– Mandibular fossa: socket between squama and petrous portion, articulates with
the condyle of the mandible (TMJ)
– External auditory meatus: opening to the ear canal
– Mastoid process: bony prominence behind the external auditory meatus
– Styloid process: looks like an elephant’s tusk located between the mastoid
process and the jaw. Acts as a point of attachment for muscles and ligaments.
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Temporal Bone (Lateral View) (Purple Colored Bone)

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 Parietal Bones
• The main bone on the side of
the skull.
• The word "parietal" comes
from the Latin "parietalis"
meaning "belonging to the
wall."
• It articulates (joins) with the
other parietal bone in the
midline (top of the head),
with the frontal bone in front
of it, with the occipital bone
behind it, and with the
sphenoid and temporal bones
lower down on the side of
the skull.

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Parietal Bone (Lateral View) (Red Colored Bone)

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Occiput

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 Occiput
• From the Latin, meaning the part of the head opposite the front.
• The bone that forms the rear and the rear bottom of the skull.
• The occipital bone articulates (joins) with the parietal and
temporal bones of the skull, the sphenoid bone in front of it, and
the first cervical vertebra (the atlas) beneath it
• Landmarks:
– Foramen magnum: large hole, allowing passage of the
spinal cord
– External occipital protuberance (EOP): prominent
projection on back of occiput
– Nuchal lines: a superior and inferior line running laterally
from the midline, serve as a point of muscle attachment

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Occipital Bone (Posterior View) (Orange Colored Bone)

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Occipital Bone (Lateral View) (Orange Bone)

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Sphenoid Bone

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 Sphenoid Bone
• A prominent, irregular, wedge-shaped bone at the base of the
skull. The sphenoid bone has been called the "keystone" of the
cranial floor since it is in contact with all of the other cranial
bones.
• The Greek physician Galan wrote that the sphenoid bone was "like
a wedge thrust between the skull and the superior maxilla."
• Landmarks
– Greater wings: large lateral projections of bone that help to
form the lateral border of the skull
– Lesser wings: smaller lateral projections of bone above the
greater wings
– Pterygoid processes: two long downward projections from the
greater wings that act as a point of muscle attachment.
– Sella turcica: known as the Turkish Saddle which cradles the
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pituitary gland.
Sphenoid Bone (Lateral View) (Green Colored Bone)

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Sphenoid Bone (Floor of Cranium) (Green Colored Bone)

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 Ethmoid Bone
• An irregularly shaped, spongy bone that provides the floor of the front part of the
skull and the roof of the nasal cavity.
• The ethmoid consists of two masses of thin plates enclosing air cells and looks
like a sieve.
• Landmarks:
– Lateral masses: form most of the wall between the nasal cavity and the
orbits
– Perpendicular plate: forms the superior portion of the nasal septum
– Cribiform plate: forms the roof of the nasal cavity
– Olfactory foramina: small holes within the cribiform plate for passage of the
first cranial nerve (for smell)
– Crista galli: upward extension of bone above the cribiform plate, acts as an
anchoring point for one of the coverings of the brain.
– Nasal concha (turbinates): two scroll-shaped projections with a mucus
membrane on either side of the nasal septum. Function to cause air
turbulence and trap inhaled particles.
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Bones of the Face

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Maxilla

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 Maxilla
• The largest bones of the face, except for the mandible and form,
by their union, the whole of the upper jaw.
• They hold the upper teeth, and connect on the left and right to
the zygomatic bones (cheek bones).
• Each assists in forming the boundaries of three cavities, namely,
the roof of the mouth, the floor and lateral wall of the nose, and
the floor of the orbit.
• Landmarks:
– Infra Orbital foramen: hole below the orbit, for blood
vessels and nerves
– Alveolar process: arch of the maxilla containing the upper
teeth
– Palatine process: horizontal projection of the maxilla
forming the anterior ¾ of the hard palate.

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Maxilla (Anterior View) (Yellow Colored Bones)

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 Zygomatic Bones
Commonly referred to as
the cheekbone.

It is situated at the upper

and lateral part of the
face: it forms the
prominence of the cheek
and part of the lateral wall
and floor of the orbit.

It articulates with the

zygomatic arch of the
temporal bone.
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Zygomatic Bones (Anterior View) (Pink Colored Bones)

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 Lacrimal Bones

Smallest and most

fragile bone of the
Lacrimal bone
face, is situated at
the front part of the
Medial of the
orbit.

Contains the lacrimal

sac and the naso-
lacrimal duct.

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Lacrimal Bones (Anterior View) (Blue Colored Bones below frontal bone)

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 Palatine bones

It contributes to the
walls of three
cavities: the floor
and lateral wall of
the nasal cavity,
the roof of the
mouth, and the
floor of the orbit

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 Nasal Bones

Varying in size and

form in different
individuals

They are placed side by

side at the middle and
upper part of the face
and form, by their
junction, "the bridge" of
the nose

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Nasal Bones (Anterior View) (Bridge of the nose, below frontal bone)

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 Inferior Nasal Conchae

Extends horizontally
along the lateral wall
of the nasal cavity
and consists of a
lamina of spongy
bone, curled upon
itself like a scroll.

Inferior Nasal Conchae 35

Inferior Nasal Conchae (Anterior View) (Inside nasal cavity on lateral walls)

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 Vomer
One of the unpaired
facial bones of the
skull.

Located in
the midsagittal line,
and touches the
sphenoid, the
ethmoid, the left and
right palatine bones,
and the left and right
maxillary bones.
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Vomer (Anterior View) (Center wall in nasal cavity)

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 Mandible
Largest and strongest
bone of the face.

Forms the lower jaw and

holds the lower teeth in
place.

The mandible consists of

a curved, horizontal
portion, the body, and two
perpendicular portions,
the rami, which unite with
the ends of the body nearly
at right angles. 39
 Mandible
• Largest and strongest bone of the face.
• Forms the lower jaw and holds the lower teeth in place.
• Landmarks:
– Body: curved horizontal portion of the mandible
– Rami: two upward projections of bone that are perpendicular to the
body of the mandible.
– Angle of the mandible: angle formed where the body meets the
ramus
– Condylar process: a condyle on the posterior portion of the ramus
that articulates with the mandibular fossa of the temporal bone.
– Coronoid process: a sharp projection of bone on the anterior portion
of the ramus that acts as a point of muscle attachment.
– Alveolar process: arch of bone containing the lower teeth
– Mental foramen: small hole on the side of the body for blood vessels
and nerves.
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Mandible (Anterior View) (Lower Jaw)

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Mandible (Lateral View) (Lower Jaw)

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