CH 8: Cranial Elements

Skull

The skeleton of the head consisting of the cranial bones and facial cavity.

Frontal bone

Forms the anterior part of the forehead, the eye sockets, and is the base of the skull.

Parietal bone

The sides and roof of the cranium.

Temporal bone

Lateral sides of the cranium.

Occipital bone

Back of the skull.

Maxilla

Upper jaw bone.

Mandible

Lower jaw bone.

Sphenoid bone

Lies at the middle part of the cranial base.

Ethmoid bone

Major superior supporting structure of the nasal cavity and forms an extensive surface area in the nasal cavity.

Process

Bony outgrowth of a larger bone.

Fontanelles

Connect cranial bones.

Suture

An immovable fibrous joint (in most cases in an adult skull) that holds most skull bones together.

Coronal suture

Between the parietal and frontal bones.

Sagittal suture

Unites two parietal bones on the superior midline of the skull.

Lambdoid suture

Unites the two parietal bones to the occipital bone.

Squamous suture

Unites the parietal bone and temporal bones.