Skull Match

Zygomatic bone

bone that form the prominent cheekbones

Mental foramen

opening lateral to the mandibular symphysis for passageway for blood vessels and nerves

Styloid process

needlelike projection inferior to the external acoustic meatus; attachment point for neck muscles

Parietal bone

form the superior and lateral portions of the skull

Temporal bone

located inferior to each parietal bone that contains opening leading to middle ear and houses structures of the inner ear

Frontal bone

forms the forehead

Mastoid process

attachment site for muscles

Zygomatic process

arched projection forming ‘cheekbone’ with facial zygomatic bone

Ethmoid bone

anterior to sphenoid and forms roof of nasal cavity, upper nasal septum, and one of the bones of medial orbit wall

Lacrimal bone

thin, scale-like bones between the ethmoid and maxillary bones

Mandibular condyle

articulates with the temporal bone, forming the temporamandibular joint (TMJ)

External acoustic meatus

ear canal leading to eardrum and middle ear

Occipital bone

curves to form the base of the skull and serves as an attachment point for neck muscles

Nasal bone

rectangular bones that form posterior portion of the hard palate and the floor of the nasal cavity

Sphenoid bone

keystone bone because it articulates with all other cranial bones. It’s bat-shaped, spans the entire skull, and forms posterior of orbit

Maxilla

upper jawbone that forms anterior portion of the hard palate and contains infraorbital foramen

Lacrimal fossa

depression that provides an opening for the nasolacrimal canal

Mandible

the lower jawbone and the only movable portion of the skull

Jugular foramen

oval-shaped opening medial to styloid process; passage for internal jugular vein and cranial nerves IX, X, and XI

Carotid canal

opening anterior to jugular foramen and medial to styloid process for passage of internal carotid artery

Zygomatic process

arched projection forming ‘cheekbone’ with facial zygomatic bone

Foramen magnum

large opening for the spinal cord to meet the brain

Vomer

thin, flat, triangular bone that joins with perpendicular plate of the ethmoid to form the nasal septum

Palatine bone

bones that form posterior portion of the hard palate, part of orbit, and the floor of the nasal cavity

Occipital condyle

oval projections lateral to the foramen magnum that articulate with the atlas (C1 vertebra)

Hypophyseal fossa of sella turcica

medial bony fossa that surrounds pituitary gland

Greater wing

makes up orbit of eye and lateral side of skull anterior to temporal bone

Optic canal

opening in lesser wings for optic nerves to enter the eye

Lesser wing

bat-shaped portions anterior to sella turcica

Crista galli

medial, vertical projection attaching to the dura mater to anchor the brain

Middle nasal conchae

projections that extend medially into the nasal cavity that increase mucosal surface area to warm and humidify air

Perpendicular plate

interior projection in nasal cavity forming the superior portion of the nasal septum

Cribriform plate

lateral to the crista galli that contains tiny opening for olfactory nerves to innervate the nasal cavity

Superior orbital fissure

opening in posterior orbit of eye for cranial nerves III, IV, V, and VI

Supraorbital foramen

opening above each orbit for passage of nerves

Inferior nasal concha

bones located inferior to the middle nasal conchae

Mandibular symphysis

depression on the midline from the mandibular fusion

Infraorbital foramen

opening below the orbit for nerves and blood vessels

Glabella

smooth, depressed area between eyebrows

Nasal septum

separates the nasal cavity into right and left sides