Dental Terminology Ch. 2

Anatomy and Oral Structures

Cranium

Portion of skull that encloses the brain. Eight bones make up this section of the skill.

Temporal

Two fan-shaped bones, one on each side of the skull, in the temporal area above each ear.

Pariental

Two bones, one on each side of the skull, that make up the roof and side walls covering the brain.

Frontal

A single bone in the frontal or anterior region that makes up the forehead

Occipital

One large, think bone in the lower back of the head that forms the base of the skill and contains a large opening for the spinal cord passage to the brain.

Ethmoid

A spongy bone located between the eye orbits that helps form the roof and part of the anterior nasal fossa of the skull.

How many bones make up the facial division of the cranium?

14

Zygomatic

Two facial bones, one under each eye, that form the cheekbone and give character to the face. AKA the malar bones.

Maxilla

Two large facial bones, one under each eye, that unite in the center in the median suture to form the upper jaw that supports the maxillary teeth in the alveolar process. Contains maxillary sinus (Atrium of Highmore), and the infraorbital frenum under each eye that permits the passage of nerves.

Palatine

Two bones, 1 left & 1 right, that unite at the median palatine suture to form the hard palate of the mouth and the nasal floor. Present in this bone are multiple foramina, the largest, the incisive foramen, is directly behind the central incisors.

Nasal

Two bones, 1 left and 1 right, that join side by side to form the arch or bridge of the nose.

Lacrimal

Two small bones, one each on the inner side or nose site of the orbital cavity, that make up the corner of the eye where the tear ducts are located.

Inferior concha (conchae)

Two thin scroll-like bones that form the lower part of the interior of the nasal cavity.

Mandible

The strong, horseshoe-shaped bone that forms the lower jaw.

Vomer

A single bone that forms the lower posterior part of the nasal septum and separates the nose into two chambers.

Auditory Ossicles

Small bones in the ear, are not considered bones of the face. 3 types.

Malleus ossicle

Largest of 3 ossicles in the middle ear; commonly called the ear mallet.

Incus ossicle

Ossicle in middle ear, AKA the anvil

Stapes ossicle

Ossicle in the middle ear, AKA the stirrup.

Hyoid

Horseshoe-shaped bone lying at the base of the tongue. Does not articulate with any other bone and not located in the skull. Closely related to the dental field.

Sinus

Air pocket or cavity in a bone that lightens the bone, warms the air intake, and helps form sounds. Receive names from the bone in which they are situated.

Accessory Paranasal sinuses that empty into the nasal cavity are:

Frontal, ethmoid, sphenoid and maxillary.

Frontal sinuses

Larger accessory sinus, located in the frontal bone or the forehead above each eye.

Ethmoid sinuses

Multiple, smaller sinuses located in the ethmoid bone, at the side of each eye.

Sphenoid sinuses

Multiple, small sinuses located in the sphenoid bone situated behind the eyes.

Maxillary sinuses

Located in the maxilla; the maxillary sinus is the largest and is called the Atrium of Highmore; this cavity is used as a landmark for identifying radiographs in the mounting of films.

Suture

A line where 2+ bones unite in an immovable joint.

Coronal suture

Junction of the frontal and the parietal bones; this area is soft at birth and shortly afterward, and it has been called the baby’s “soft spot” or Fontanel, sometimes spelled fontanelle.

Sagittal suture

Union line between the 2 parietal bones on the top of the skull

Lambdoid suture

Located between the parietal bone and the upper border of the occipital bone.

Temporoparietal suture

Located between the temporal and parietal bones; AKA the squamous suture.

Palatine sutures in mouth

Median and Transverse

Left and right palatine processes and the left and right processes of the maxilla meet at the

Median Palatine Suture

All 4 edges of the processes combine at the

Transverse Palatine Suture

How many foramina are present in the hard palate bone

5

Incisive foramen

Largest foramina in hard palate bone, situated behind the incisors; a greater and lesser palatine foramina are present on each side in the rear.

Process

A projection or outgrowth of bone or tissue. Not to be confused with the fusion line where two bones develop into 1, ex, mandible.

Symphysis

In the center of the mandible, forms the chin, AKA the mental or chin protuberance.

How many main processes or bony growths related to dentistry does the skull have?

8

Alveolar processes

Bone growth or border of the maxilla and the mandible; makes up and forms tooth sockets.

Condyloid processes

Posterior growth on the ramus of the mandible; articulates with the temporal bone in the temporomandibular joint.

Coronoid processes

Anterior growth on the ramus of the mandible that serves as he attachment position fo the temporalis muscle.

Frontal processes

Projection of maxilla meeting with the frontal bone to form the eye orbit.

Infraorbital processes

Growth process from the zygomatic bone that articulates with the maxilla to form the lower side of the eye orbit.

Mastoid processes

Growth on the temporal bone behind the ear that is used for muscle attachment.

Pterygoid processes

(wing-shaped) Growth of the sphenoid bone extending downward from the bone; the most inferior end of the process is known as the pterygoid hamulus, a hook-like end that serves a site for muscle attachment.

Styloid processes

Small, pointed growth from the lower border of the temporal bone; serves as a bone position for attachment of some tongue muscles.

Foramen

An opening or hole in the bone for nerve and vessel passage.

External Auditory Meatus

A large opening in the temporal bone used for the passage of auditory nerves and vessels.

Plural of foramen

Foramina

Why is learning the location of the foramina important?

Many injections for anesthesia are placed in these areas.

How many foramina of the head are related to dentistry?

9

Magnum Foramen

Opening in the occipital bone for spinal cord passage; largest of all foramina

Mandibular Foramen

Located on the lingual side of the ramus of the mandible; permits nerve and vessels passage to teeth and mouth tissues.

Mental Foramen

Opening situated on left and the right anterior areas of the mandible; used for passage of nerve and vessels.

Lingual Foramen

Small opening in the center of the mental spine for nerve passage to the incisor area.

Incisive Foramen

Opening in the maxilla behind the central incisors on the midline.

Supraorbital Foramen

An opening in the frontal bone above the eye orbit

Infraorbital Foramen

An opening in the maxilla under the eye orbit

Palatine Foramen

Anterior and posterior openings in the hard palate.

Zygomaticofacial Foramen

An opening in the zygomatic bone

Fibrous membrane all bones are covered by

Periosteum

Periosteum

Firms a lining on all surfaces, except the areas of articulation

Mucoperiosteum

When periosteum has a mucous surface

How many types of oral mucosa does the oral cavity have

3

Lining mucosa

Mucous membrane that lines the inner surfaces of the lips (labial mucosa) and the cheeks (buccal mucosa)

Masticatory Mucosa

Elastic type of mucous membrane that undergoes stress and pull; located around the alveolar area of the teeth and lines the hard palate.

Specialized mucosa

Smoother mucous tissue found on the dorsal side of the tongue

Only movable bone in the skull and strongest bone in the face

The mandible

How many major anatomical parts does the mandible have

7

Ramus

Ascending part of the mandible that arises from the curved, lower arch

Angle of the mandible

Area along the lower edge of the mandible where the upward curve of the mandible forms

Sigmoid notch

S-shaped curvature between the condyle and coronoid processes; upper border of the mandible; also called the mandibular notch

Mylohyoid ridge

Bony ridge on the lingual surface of the mandible

Oblique line

Slanted, bony growth ridge on the facial side of the mandible

Retromolar area

Space located to the rear of the mandibular molars

Symphysis

Center of the mandible; AKA mental protuberance

The mandible articulates together as a

Joint with the temporal bone of the cranium, AKA TMJ

The condyle of the mandible rests in a depression in the temporal bone called

glenoid or mandibular fossa

Articular eminence of the temporal bone forms the

Anterior boundary of the fossa and helps maintain the mandible in position

Between the contact area of these two bones is the

articular disc, a meniscus and synovial fluid that cushions and lubricates the joint that works in a hinge-action movement.

Mastication (chewing) is controlled by

Paired muscles, named for placement area.

How many major muscles of mastication

4

Temporal muscle

A fan-shaped muscle on each side of the skull; elevates and lowers the jaw and can draw the mandible backward

Masseter muscle

The muscle that closes the mouth, the principal mastication muscle

Internal pterygoid muscle (wing-shaped)

Muscle that raises the mandible to close the jaw

External pterygoid muscle

Muscle that opens the jaw and thrusts the mandible forward; assists with lateral movement.

Orbicularis oris

AKA “kissing muscle” a circular muscle surrounding the mouth the compacts, compresses, and protrudes the lips

Buccinator

Principal cheek muscle: compresses the cheek expels air through the lips, and aids in food mastication

Mentalis

Muscle of the chin (mental) that moves the chin tissue and raises or lowers the lower lip

How many cranial nerves does the head contain?

12 pairs

Type, Function, and Example Malfunctions

This is the key for certain definitions

What do S, M, and B stand for?

Sensory, Motor, and Mixed (weirdly enough)

Olfactory nerves

S, used for smell, and anosmia (loss of sense of smell)

Olfact-

Smell

Optic nerves

S, used for vision, anopia (blindness)

Optic-

Eye

Oculomotor

M, used for upper-eyelid and eyeball movement. Diplopia (double vision)

Oculo-

eye

Motor-

Movement