Bones of the Viscerocranium

LECTURE 2

what are the 3 cavities in the viscerocranium?

oral

orbital

nasal

what is the only movable bone in the viscerocranium?

mandible (TMJ)

what is the primary function of the mandible?

mastication

which 2 bones house the teeth?

mandible and maxilla

what bone forms the posteroinferor part of the nasal septum?

vomer

what is the articulation between the 2 maxillae called

the intermaxillary suture

what are the structural contributions of the maxillae?

• the floor and infero-medial wall of the orbits

• lateral wall and floor of the nasal cavity

• most of the hard palate

what is the function of the inferior nasal conchae?

olfaction and humidifying inhaled air

what are the structural contributions of the zygomatic bone?

• prominent part of the cheek

• lateral eye socket

where is the palatine bone located?

between the maxilla and pterygoid process of the sphenoid bone.

what are the structural contributions of the palatine bone?

• skeletal framework of inferior orbital fissure

• posterior region of the nasal cavity

what is the structural contribution of the nasal bone?

upper bridge of the nose. NB: structural part of the nose is from cartilage.

what are structural contributions of the lacrimal bones?

• medial wall of the orbits

• lateral wall of the nasal cavity

what is the function of the lacrimal

• structural support to the eye socket

• lacrimal apparatus

what two bones form the pterygomaxillary fissure?

• maxillae

• sphenoid

what is the function of the pterygomaxillary fissure?

connects the infratemporal fossa to the pterygopalatine fossa.

what is the relevance of the pterygomaxillary fissure?

it is a neuro-vascular cross road.

why is the pterygopalatine fossa clinically inaccessible?

it is a fat filled space

what is the relevance of the pterygopalatine fossa?

natural conduit for the spread of inflammatory and neoplastic diseases

what bones form the inferior orbital fissure?

• sphenoid - greater wing

• maxilla

• palatine

• zygomatic

how does the pterygomaxillary fissure and infraorbital fissure connect?

yes.

the infraorbital fissure connects with it medially at a right angle.

what are some symptoms of sinitus?

• pain and swelling in the eye and cheek

• discharge from the nose

what is the posterior opening of the nasal cavities called?

posterior nares/chonae

what are nasal polyps?

benign growths that can block the chonae and cause difficulty breathing.

what is the difference between atresia and stenosis?

atresia: completely blocked

stenosis: narrowing

how do Le Fort fracture occur and what are they?

• high impact traumas

• partial or complete separation of the midface from the skull