Head and Neck Anatomy - Vocabulary Flashcards

A comprehensive set of vocabulary-style flashcards covering bones, sutures, skull features, cranial nerves, brain protection, CSF circulation, brain regions, vasculature, sinuses, eyes, ears, jaws, palate, and related clinical concepts from the Head and Neck notes.

Frontal bone

One of the cranial bones forming the forehead and the anterior cranial fossa; contains the frontal sinuses.

Parietal bone

A paired cranial bone forming most of the superior and lateral aspects of the skull.

Temporal bone

A cranial bone containing features such as the mastoid process, external acoustic meatus, and styloid process.

Occipital bone

Cranial bone forming the posterior skull; contains foramen magnum and occipital condyles.

Sphenoid bone

A complex cranial bone with greater and lesser wings and the sella turcica; forms part of the cranial floor and orbits.

Ethmoid bone

A light, spongy cranial bone containing the perpendicular plate, crista galli, and ethmoid air cells.

Coronal suture

Fibrous joint between the frontal bone and the two parietal bones.

Sagittal suture

Fibrous joint between the two parietal bones along the midline.

Lambdoid suture

Fibrous joint between the parietal bones and the occipital bone.

Squamous suture

Fibrous joint between the temporal bone and the parietal bone.

Mandible

Lower jaw bone; features include body, ramus, condylar process, coronoid process, and alveolar part.

Maxilla

Upper jaw bone; forms much of the orbital floor, nasal cavity, and palate; contains dental alveoli.

Zygomatic bone

Cheekbone; contributes to the lateral wall and rim of the orbit.

Nasal bone

Small paired bone forming the bridge of the nose.

Lacrimal bone

Small facial bone forming part of the medial orbit; contains lacrimal fossa for tear drainage.

Palatine bone

Facial bone forming part of the hard palate and the nasal cavity floor.

Inferior nasal concha

Paired facial bones forming the lower scrolls inside the nasal cavity.

Vomer

Bone forming the inferior portion of the nasal septum.

Alveolar process

Part of the jaw containing tooth sockets for the teeth.

Condylar process

Posterior ramus projection of the mandible that articulates with the temporal bone at the TMJ.

Coronoid process

Anterior ramus projection of the mandible for muscle attachment.

Ram us (mandible)

Vertical part of the mandible between the angle and the coronoid process.

Mental foramen

Opening on the anterior surface of the mandible for mental nerve and vessels.

Mylohyoid line

Ridge on the inner surface of the mandible for mylohyoid muscle attachment.

Oblique line (mandible)

Ridge on the external surface of the mandible for muscle attachments.

Mandibular foramen

Opening on the medial surface of the mandible for the inferior alveolar nerve.

Hyoid bone (body; greater horns; lesser horns)

U-shaped bone in the neck not articulating with other bones; anchors tongue and neck muscles.

Foramen magnum

Large opening in the occipital bone through which the brainstem connects to the spinal cord.

Occipital condyle

Articulates with the atlas (first cervical vertebra) at the skull base.

External occipital protuberance

Bony prominence at the posterior skull attachment site for ligaments and muscles.

Nuchal lines (supreme/superior/inferior)

Ridges on the occipital bone for muscle attachments; superior line is highest.

Mastoid process

Bony projection behind the ear on the temporal bone; attachment for neck muscles.

Styloid process

Pole-like projection of the temporal bone for ligament and muscle attachments.

Zygomatic arch

Bony arch formed by the zygomatic and temporal bones; part of the cheekbone.

External acoustic meatus

Canal in the temporal bone leading to the eardrum.

Olfactory nerve (CN I)

Special sensory nerve for smell; passes through the cribriform plate; anosmia indicates olfactory damage.

Optic nerve (CN II)

Sensory nerve for vision; passes through the optic canal and forms the optic chiasm.

Oculomotor nerve (CN III)

Motor nerve to most extrinsic eye muscles; parasympathetic fibers to pupil and lens via ciliary ganglion.

Trochlear nerve (CN IV)

Motor nerve to the superior oblique; passes through the superior orbital fissure.

Trigeminal nerve (CN V)

Mixed cranial nerve with three divisions: V1 (ophthalmic), V2 (maxillary), V3 (mandibular); sensory and motor functions.

Abducens nerve (CN VI)

Motor nerve to lateral rectus; passes through the superior orbital fissure.

Facial nerve (CN VII)

Motor to facial muscles; conveys taste from anterior two-thirds of tongue; parasympathetic to glands.

Vestibulocochlear nerve (CN VIII)

Nerve for hearing and balance; enters brainstem via internal acoustic meatus.

Glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX)

Sensory and motor nerve; taste posterior one-third; visceral sensory from pharynx; parasympathetic to parotid gland.

Vagus nerve (CN X)

Prominent parasympathetic nerve to thoracic and abdominal viscera; exits via jugular foramen.

Accessory nerve (CN XI)

Motor to sternocleidomastoid and trapezius; enters skull via foramen magnum and exits via jugular foramen.

Hypoglossal nerve (CN XII)

Motor to intrinsic and extrinsic tongue muscles; exits via the hypoglossal canal.

Cribriform plate

Part of the ethmoid bone; perforated for the olfactory nerve filaments.

Frontal sinus

Paranasal sinus within the frontal bone; drains into the middle meatus.

Ethmoid air cells

Ethmoid sinus network within the ethmoid bone; drain into superior/middle meatus.

Sphenoid sinus

Paranasal sinus within the sphenoid bone; drains to sphenoethmoidal recess.

Maxillary sinus

Largest paranasal sinus; within the maxilla; drains into the middle meatus.

Sella turcica

Bony saddle on the sphenoid bone that houses the pituitary gland.

Pituitary gland

Endocrine gland housed in the sella turcica; connected to the hypothalamus by the infundibulum.

Optic chiasm

X-shaped partial crossing of the optic nerves; fibers cross to the opposite hemisphere.

Foramen ovale

Foramen in the sphenoid bone through which the mandibular nerve (CN V3) passes.

Foramen rotundum

Foramen in the sphenoid bone for the maxillary nerve (CN V2) to pass.

Foramen spinosum

Foramen in the sphenoid bone for the middle meningeal vessels.

Foramen lacerum

Foramen at the skull base; closed by a cartilage in life but important in relationships with internal carotid.

Carotid canal

Canal in the temporal bone for the internal carotid artery.

Jugular foramen

Foramen between temporal and occipital bones for CN IX–XII and internal jugular vein.

Dural venous sinuses

Venous channels between periosteal and meningeal layers of dura; drain brain blood to internal jugular vein.

Superior sagittal sinus

Major dural sinus along the midline in the falx cerebri; drains cerebral venous blood.

Confluence of the sinuses

Dural sinus where several sinuses meet; drains into the transverse sinuses.

Transverse sinus

Dural sinus running laterally from the confluence toward the back of the skull.

Sigmoid sinus

S-shaped dural venous sinus continuing as the internal jugular vein.

Arachnoid granulations

Protrusions of arachnoid mater into dural venous sinuses; allow CSF to drain into blood.

Falx cerebri

Dural fold that descends into the longitudinal fissure, separating cerebral hemispheres.

Tentorium cerebelli

Dural fold separating cerebrum from cerebellum.

Pia mater

Delicate innermost meningeal layer clinging to brain surfaces.

Arachnoid mater

Meninx between dura and pia; contains arachnoid villi for CSF absorption.

Dura mater

Tough outer meningeal layer with periosteal and meningeal layers; forms dural folds.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)

Clear fluid formed by choroid plexuses; cushions brain and spinal cord; circulates in ventricles and subarachnoid space.

Choroid plexus

Structure within ventricles produced CSF by filtration from blood; lined by ependymal cells.

Ventricles (lateral, third, fourth)

Fluid-filled brain cavities containing CSF; connected by foramina and cerebral aqueduct.

Cerebral aqueduct

Channel (aqueduct of Sylvius) connecting third and fourth ventricles.

Central canal

Narrow CSF-containing channel in the spinal cord continuous with the brain ventricles.

Hydrocephalus

Accumulation of excess CSF within the ventricular system or subarachnoid space.

Blood-brain barrier

Selective barrier of tight capillary endothelium with astrocyte end-feet; restricts toxin entry.

Meningitis

Inflammation of the meninges, often diagnosed by CSF analysis via lumbar puncture.

Gray matter

Centrally located neuron cell bodies in brain; forms cortex and deep nuclei.

White matter

Myelinated nerve fibers forming tracts; lies externally in brain.

Cortex

Outer layer of gray matter forming the brain’s surface; involved in processing.

Cerebrum (cerebral hemispheres)

Largest brain region; consists of right and left hemispheres with lobes.

Cerebellum

Posterior brain structure for coordination, balance, and motor learning.

Brainstem

Midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata; conduit for tracts and cranial nerve nuclei.

Diencephalon

Brain region containing thalamus, hypothalamus, and epithalamus; regulatory centers.

Thalamus

Relays incoming sensory signals to cerebral cortex; gateway to cortex; many nuclei.

Hypothalamus

Regulates autonomic nervous system and endocrine functions; contains mammillary bodies.

Pineal gland

Part of the epithalamus; secretes melatonin to influence circadian rhythms.

Interthalamic adhesion (intermediate mass of thalamus)

Bridge of gray matter connecting thalami across the third ventricle.

Hypophyseal fossa

Depression in the sphenoid bone housing the pituitary gland.

Pituitary gland

Major endocrine gland at the base of the brain; connected to hypothalamus by the infundibulum.

Lobes of the cerebral cortex

Frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital lobes; insula is a buried lobe.

Insula

Cerebral lobe hidden within the lateral sulcus; involved in diverse functions.

Circle of Willis

Cerebral arterial circle formed by anterior/posterior cerebral and communicating arteries.

Anterior cerebral artery

Branch of the internal carotid; supplies medial portions of cerebral hemispheres.

Middle cerebral artery

Major brain artery supplying lateral aspects of the hemispheres.

Posterior cerebral artery

Artery supplying occipital and parts of temporal lobes.

Basilar artery

Artery formed by vertebral arteries; divides into posterior cerebral arteries.