Head and Neck Functional Anatomy Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering skull structures, sutures, cranial nerves, TMJ anatomy, lymphatic drainage, and muscles of mastication based on lecture notes.

Pterion

An H-shaped suture located on the side of the skull where the frontal, parietal, temporal, and sphenoid bones join together, closely related to the middle meningeal artery.

Bregma

The anatomical point on the skull where the coronal suture joins the sagittal suture.

Sharpey's fibers

A matrix of connective tissues that grow from each skull bone into the adjoining one to bind sutures together.

Synarthroses

Immovable joints, such as the sutures found in the skull.

Fontanels

Areas of unossified dense connective tissue (commonly called soft spots) in an infant skull that provide flexibility during birth.

Zygomatic process

A projection of the squamous part of the temporal bone extending anteriorly to form part of the zygomatic arch.

External acoustic meatus

The opening into the ear canal bordered by the tympanic part of the temporal bone.

Internal acoustic meatus

An opening in the petrous part of the temporal bone allowing passage of the vestibulocochlear nerve from the inner ear to the brain.

Foramen magnum

A large opening in the occipital bone that admits the spinal cord to the cranial cavity.

Occipital condyle

A smooth knob on the occipital bone that allows the skull to rest on the vertebral column.

Sella turcica

A depression located within the body of the sphenoid bone that houses the pituitary gland (hypophysis).

Crista galli

A median ridge on the cribriform plate of the ethmoid bone that serves as an attachment point for the dura mater.

Alveolar processes

Bony projections of the maxillae and mandible that grow into the spaces between the bases of the teeth.

Infraorbital foramen

An opening in the maxilla that transmits a blood vessel to the face and a nerve receiving sensations from the cheek and nasal region.

Condylar process

A projection of the mandibular ramus bearing the mandibular condyle, which articulates with the temporal bone.

Coronoid process

A posterior/superior projection on the mandible that serves as the point of insertion for the temporalis muscle.

Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ)

A synovial joint lined with fibrocartilage formed by the articulation of the mandibular condyle and the mandibular fossa.

Hyoid bone

A U-shaped bone located above the thyroid cartilage that does not articulate directly with any other bone.

Pharynx

A funnel-shaped muscular tube composed of skeletal muscle running from the base of the skull to vertebra C6.

Right lymphatic duct

A lymphatic duct formed by the right jugular, subclavian, and bronchomediastinal trunks that drains the right arm, thorax, and head into the right subclavian vein.

Thoracic duct

A major lymphatic duct beginning below the diaphragm that drains lymph from the lower body, left upper limb, and left side of head, neck, and thorax.

Thymus

A bilobed organ of the endocrine, lymphatic, and immune systems located in the superior mediastinum that houses developing T lymphocytes and involutes with age.

CN I (Olfactory nerve)

A sensory cranial nerve whose primary function is smell.

CN V (Trigeminal nerve)

A mixed sensory and motor cranial nerve responsible for facial touch/sensation and mastication (chewing).

CN VIII (Vestibulocochlear nerve)

A sensory cranial nerve responsible for hearing and vestibular sense (head position relative to gravity).

CN X (Vagus nerve)

A mixed cranial nerve responsible for visceral regulation and speech.

Masseter

A muscle of mastication originating from the zygomatic arch and inserting at the mandibular angle that elevates and protrudes the mandible to close the mouth.

Temporalis

A muscle of mastication originating from the temporal fossa and fascia and inserting at the coronoid process and ramus of the mandible that elevates and retracts the mandible.

Medial Pterygoid

A muscle of mastication originating from the sphenoid, maxilla, and palatine bones and inserting on the medial surface of the ramus and angle of the mandible that laterally moves and protracts the mandible.