Skeletal System: Internal and Inferior Skull Anatomy

Practice vocabulary terms related to the internal, inferior, and midsagittal views of the human skull as described in laboratory lecture notes.

Foramen magnum

A large hole in the base of the occipital bone through which the spinal cord passes.

Occipital bone

The posterior bone of the skull that features the foramen magnum and the posterior cranial fossa.

Parietal bones

Bones located on the lateral walls and the superior part of the skull, joined by the sagittal suture.

Ethmoid bone

A bone containing the cribriform plate, crista galli, and a perpendicular plate that makes up the superior portion of the nasal septum.

Cribriform plate

A part of the ethmoid bone that features the olfactory foramina.

Crista galli

A prominent ridge on the ethmoid bone located within the anterior cranial fossa.

Sphenoid bone

A complex bone containing the sella turcica, lesser and greater wings, and the pterygoid processes.

Sella turcica

A depression in the sphenoid bone visible in the internal view of the skull.

Vomer

A bone visible along the midline that forms the inferior portion of the nasal septum.

Palatine bones

Bones that make up the posterior quarter of the hard palate.

Maxillae

Facial bones containing palatine processes that form the anterior portion of the hard palate.

Hard palate

The bony roof of the mouth composed of the palatine processes of the maxillae and the horizontal plates of the palatine bones.

Zygomatic bones

Bones located lateral to the maxillae that form part of the zygomatic arch.

Coronal suture

The joint separating the frontal bone from the parietal bones.

Sagittal suture

The joint located along the midline of the skull between the two parietal bones.

Lambdoid suture

The joint separating the parietal bones from the occipital bone.

Squamous suture

The joint separating the temporal bone from the parietal bone.

Internal acoustic meatus

A canal in the petrous part of the temporal bone that opens into the cranial cavity.

External acoustic meatus

The external opening of the ear canal located in the temporal bone.

Mandibular fossa

A depression in the temporal bone that articulates with the mandibular condyle.

Carotid canal

A passage in the temporal bone through which the internal carotid artery enters the skull.

Styloid process

A thin, pointed projection of the temporal bone located inferiorly.

Mastoid process

A prominent, rounded projection of the temporal bone located posterior to the external acoustic meatus.

Jugular foramen

An opening located between the temporal and occipital bones.

Incisive fossa

A depression located at the anterior midline where the two maxillae meet.

Calvaria

The roof of the skull, often referred to as the skullcap.