Skull and Vertebral Column – Key Terms (Vocabulary)

Vocabulary flashcards covering facial bones, skull features, sutures, foramina, vertebral anatomy, spine curvatures, and common spine conditions from the lecture.

Nasal bones

Two small paired bones forming the bridge and the hard part of the nose.

Inferior nasal conchae

Two thin curved bones inside the nasal cavity that form part of the lateral walls and increase turbulence in the airways.

Maxilla

Upper jaw bone; holds the upper teeth and forms most of the hard palate.

Zygomatic bone

Cheekbone; forms the contour of the cheek and part of the orbit.

Lacrimal bone

Small bone in the medial orbit; contains the lacrimal fossa associated with tear drainage.

Palatine bone

Posterior portion of the hard palate; fuses with the maxilla; helps form the nasal cavity and palate.

Mandible

The movable lower jaw bone; holds the lower teeth.

Vomer

Vertical bone forming the inferior part of the nasal septum; etymology relates to vomiting.

Frontal bone

Forehead bone; forms the anterior part of the skull and upper eye sockets.

Parietal bones

Paired bones forming the sides and roof of the cranial vault; joined by the sagittal suture.

Temporal bones

Bones on the sides of the skull around the ears; contain the external acoustic meatus.

Occipital bone

Posterior/base of the skull; contains the foramen magnum and occipital condyles.

Sutures

Fibrous joints between skull bones (e.g., sagittal, squamosal, lambdoidal); allow skull growth in infancy.

Sagittal suture

Fibrous joint between the two parietal bones along the midline.

Squamosal suture

Suture between the temporal and parietal bones.

Lambdoidal suture

Suture between the occipital and parietal bones; zigzag line to absorb stress.

Foramen (general)

Any natural opening in a bone that allows passage of nerves or vessels.

Foramen magnum

Large hole in the occipital bone through which the spinal cord passes.

Sella turcica

Saddle-shaped depression in the sphenoid bone that houses the pituitary gland.

Foramen ovale

Oval-shaped opening in the sphenoid bone; transmits the mandibular nerve (CN V3).

Foramen rotundum

Round/oval opening in the sphenoid bone; transmits the maxillary nerve (CN V2).

Optic canal/foramen

Opening in the sphenoid bone through which the optic nerve (CN II) passes.

Olfactory foramina

Small holes in the ethmoid bone (cribriform plate) for the olfactory nerves (CN I) involved in smell.

Ethmoid bone

Irregular bone between the eyes; forms part of the nasal cavity and contains olfactory foramina.

Mastoid process

Bony projection behind the ear; attachment site for neck muscles; contains air cells.

External acoustic meatus (external auditory meatus)

Ear canal; opening in the temporal bone leading to the ear.

Occipital condyles

Rounded projections at the skull base that articulate with the first cervical vertebra (atlas).

Vertebral foramen

Hole in a vertebra through which the spinal cord passes.

Intervertebral foramen

Openings between adjacent vertebrae for exiting spinal nerves.

Vertebral body

The thick, anterior portion of a vertebra that bears weight.

Spinous process

Posterior projection of a vertebra; muscle and ligament attachment.

Transverse processes

Lateral projections of a vertebra; cervical vertebrae have transverse foramina for vertebral arteries.

Superior articular process

Facet on the top of a vertebra that articulates with the vertebra above.

Inferior articular process

Facet on the bottom of a vertebra that articulates with the vertebra below.

Kyphosis

Primary spinal curvature (thoracic and sacral) with a posterior convexity;

Lordosis

Secondary curvatures (cervical and lumbar) with an anterior convexity; develops as the child learns to hold head up.

Scoliosis

Lateral (sideways) curvature of the spine; often screened in adolescence; early detection improves outcomes.

Intervertebral disc

Fibrocartilage pad between vertebrae that cushions and absorbs compressive forces; can bulge or herniate.