Head and Neck Anatomy - Skull and Cranial Cavity

Flashcards covering the anatomy of the skull, including the cranium, facial bones, sutures, fossae, and meninges, for review and exam preparation.

Anterior View

Anterior view of the skull as if you are looking at someone's face.

Maxilla

Upper jaw, holds the soft tissues.

Mandible

The only movable bone in the adult skull.

Neurocranium

Includes cerebrum, cerebellum, and cranial nerves.

Viscerocranium

Includes the soft tissues of the skull, such as the face, orbit of the eye, nasal cavity, and mouth; Includes the mandible

Calvaria/Cranial Cap

The rounded, domed portion of the skull where a hat would sit.

SCALP

Skin, Connective tissue, Aponeurotic layer, Loose connective tissue, Periosteum

Suture

The connecting points or articulation sites between the bones of the skull

Coronal Suture

Joins the frontal bone to the two parietal bones on the sides

Sphenoid Bone

Connects right side to the left side of the skull. Has the greater wing that connects to the frontal, parietal, temporal bones

Pterion

Connecting suture between the frontal bone, parietal bone, temporal bone, and the greater wing of the sphenoid. Naturally weak point of the skull.

Lacrimal Bone

Located inside the orbit of the eye; tears drain through here.

Coronal Suture

Connects your frontal bone to the two parietal bones

Sagittal Suture

Connects the two parietal bones

Lambdoid Suture

Connects the occipital bone to the two parietal bones

Fontanelles

Soft spots on an infant's skull.

Bregma

The intersection of the coronal and sagittal sutures in a child past two years of age

Lambda

Intersection between the sagittal suture and the lambdoid suture

Nasal Septum

Separation between the right and left nasal passages.

Vomer

Part of the bony portion of the nasal septum.

Hypoglossal Canal

Located in the perimeter of the foramen magnum. More transverse positioned hole

Communicating Foramina

Holes that allow structures to pass through the skull.

Incisive Foramen/Fossa

Front teeth, just behind them on maxilla

Greater Palatine Foramen

Located very close to the molars, found on the hard palate

Foramen Ovale

Directly posterior to the greater palatine foramen, slightly lateral

Foramen Lacerum

Directly medial to your foramen ovale

Foramen Spinosum

Pretty much directly lateral to your foramen ovale

Carotid Canal

Starts in the petrous portion of the temporal bone.

Stylomastoid Foramen

An opening located between the styloid process and the mastoid process of the temporal bone

Foramen Magnum

Located in occipital bone; spinal cord transitions away from brainstem here

Anterior Cranial Fossa

The highest cranial fossa, directly above the eyeballs, includes frontal and ethmoid bones. Frontal lobe of the brain sits here.

Middle Cranial Fossa

Level with the tops of your ears. Temporal lobes of the brain are housed here

Posterior Cranial Fossa

Primarily for the cerebellum. Hypoglossal canal and jugular foramen are located here

Crista Galli

Pointed structure coming out of the ethmoid bone in the anterior cranial fossa

Sella Turcica/Dorsum Sellae

Structure of the sphenoid bone shaped like a Turkish saddle that houses the pituitary gland

Dura Mater

Most superficial and thickest layer of the meninges.

Arachnoid Mater

Deep to the dura mater

Pia Mater

Deep to the arachnoid mater

Falx Cerebri

The dura mater folds into itself to protect the two lobes from touching each other.

Superior Sagittal Sinus

Structure on the skull that indicates the vein of the brain

Subdural Space

Potential space that should not exist in a nonpathogenic person. If seen on an MRI or CT scan, it is a bad sign.

Arachnoid Granulations

Outpouching of arachnoid mater that allows cerebrospinal fluid to filter into the venous system.

Tentorium Cerebelli

The dura mater folds in on itself and forms a tent over the cerebellum, separating the cerebellum from the occipital lobe

Cavernous Sinus

Located on either side of the dorsum sellae and the pituitary gland. Nerves and arteries pass through it. Point of drainage for face