Skeletal System - Head and Neck Anatomy (Vocabulary Flashcards)

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering cranial/facial bones and related skull anatomy from the notes.

Cranial bones

Occipital, Frontal, Sphenoid, Parietal, Temporal, Ethmoid.

Facial bones

Vomer, Lacrimal, Nasal, Inferior Nasal Conchae, Zygomatic, Maxillary bones, Mandible, Palatine bones.

Primary purpose of facial bones

Create facial features and serve as a base for the dentition (teeth).

Sella turcica

Deep saddle-shaped depression on the superior surface of the body of the sphenoid bone.

Hypophyseal fossa

The deepest part of the sella turcica; contains the pituitary gland.

Sphenoidal sinuses

Air-filled cavities within the body of the sphenoid bone; right and left, separated by a septum.

Lesser wing, greater wing, pterygoid process

Three paired processes projecting from the body of the sphenoid bone.

Orbital apex formed by lesser wing

The lesser wing forms the orbital apex.

Pterygoid process

Projects inferiorly; consists of a flattened lateral pterygoid plate and a thinner medial pterygoid plate; attachment site for muscles of mastication.

Pterygoid fossa

The fossa between the two pterygoid plates.

Superior orbital fissure

Opening that transmits the ophthalmic nerve and other structures.

Foramen rotundum

Transmits the maxillary (V2) nerve.

Foramen ovale

Transmits the mandibular (V3) nerve.

Foramen spinosum

Transmits the middle meningeal artery and vein and the meningeal branch of the mandibular nerve.

Endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery (ETSS)

Surgical approach through the nasal cavity and sphenoid to access the pituitary gland.

Ethmoid bone location relative to sphenoid

Anterior to the sphenoid bone in the anterior part of the cranium.

Perpendicular plate

Unpaired plate forming part of the nasal septum.

Cribriform plate

Unpaired horizontal plate with numerous olfactory foramina for smell nerves.

Crista galli

Wedge-shaped continuation of the perpendicular plate; attachment for brain coverings.

Olfactory foramina

Passages in the cribriform plate for olfactory nerves.

Superior nasal concha

Part of the ethmoid bone forming the upper nasal concha.

Middle nasal concha

Part of the ethmoid bone forming the middle nasal concha.

Ethmoidal sinuses

Small air cells within the lateral masses of the ethmoid bone.

Vomer description

Thin, flat, single midline facial bone in the midsagittal nasal cavity.

Vomer nasal septum portion

Forms the posterior and inferior part of the nasal septum.

Vomer muscle attachments

Vomer has no muscle attachments.

Vomer articulations

Articulates with perpendicular plate of ethmoid, sphenoid, and palatine processes of maxillae, plus horizontal plates of palatine bones.

Lacrimal bones

Paired, small, fragile bones; form part of the anterior medial wall of the orbit.

Nasolacrimal duct

Duct formed at the junction of the lacrimal bone and maxilla that drains tears into the inferior nasal meatus.

Nasal bones

Form the bridge of the nose.

Nasal bones articulation

Articulate with the maxillae laterally and the frontal bone superiorly at the frontonasal suture.

Nasal bones fracture risk

Protruding position and lack of support; most commonly fractured facial bones.

Inferior nasal conchae

Form part of the lateral walls of the nasal cavity.

Inferior vs superior/middle conchae

Inferior conchae are separate facial bones; superior and middle conchae are part of the ethmoid bone.

Nasal conchae function

Protect nasal meatuses; provide openings to paranasal sinuses or nasolacrimal duct.

Zygomatic bones

Also called the zygoma; forms the cheekbone and part of the orbit.

Zygoma

Another name for the zygomatic bone.

Zygomatic bone forms

Forms the majority of the cheekbone, lateral wall, and floor of the orbit.

Zygomatic processes

Frontal process (anterior orbital wall), Temporal process (zygomatic arch), Maxillary process (infraorbital rim and orbital wall).

Frontal process articulation

Frontal bone interaction with the zygomatic bone.

Temporal process and zygomatic arch

Temporal process joins with temporal bone to form the zygomatic arch.

Maxillary process

Forms part of the infraorbital rim and orbital wall; articulates with the maxilla.

Articulations with zygomatic bone

Frontal bone, temporal bone, sphenoid bone, and maxilla.

Palatine bones shape

L-shaped bones with a horizontal plate and a vertical plate.

Palatine horizontal plate

Forms the posterior hard palate; superiorly contributes to the floor of the nasal cavity.

Palatine vertical plate

Forms part of the lateral walls of the nasal cavity and part of the orbital apex.

Palatine foramina

Two main foramina: greater palatine foramen and lesser palatine foramen.

Greater palatine foramen

Transmits the greater palatine nerve and vessels.

Lesser palatine foramen

Transmits the lesser palatine nerve and vessels.

Sphenopalatine foramen

Opening between sphenoid and palatine bone; transmits branches from pterygopalatine ganglion, sphenopalatine arteries, nasopalatine nerves, and posterior superior nasal nerves.

Maxillae overview

Upper jaw; two fused maxillae at the intermaxillary suture; each has a pyramid-shaped body and four processes.

Maxilla processes

Frontal, zygomatic, palatine, and alveolar processes.

Maxillary sinuses

Air-filled spaces within the maxillary bodies.

Inferior orbital fissure

Fissure separating the maxilla's orbital surface from the sphenoid bone.

Infraorbital foramen

Located on the facial surface of each maxilla; transmits the infraorbital nerve and vessels; about 10 mm below the infraorbital rim midpoint.

Canine eminence

Prominent ridge over the roots of the maxillary canines; landmark for anterior superior alveolar block.

Maxillary tuberosity

Rounded elevation behind the last maxillary molar.

Incisive foramen

Passages for nasopalatine nerves and sphenopalatine arteries from nasal cavity to anterior hard palate.

Alveolar process density

Less dense and more porous than the mandible; facilitates local anesthesia with supraperiosteal injections.

Sinus lift

Procedure to augment bone in the maxilla to support dental implants, often with bone grafting.

Mandible overview

Single facial bone; forms the lower jaw; strongest facial bone; freely movable.

Mental protuberance

Prominent chin on the anterior mandible.

Mental foramen

Opening for the mental nerve and vessels.

Mandibular ramus

Ridge that rises from the angle of the mandible; attachment site for muscles.

Coronoid notch

Largest depression on the anterior border of the ramus; landmark for inferior alveolar block.

Condyloid process

Consists of the mandibular condyle and its neck.

Genial tubercles

Four mental spines near the mental symphysis; muscle attachments.

Mylohyoid line

Internal oblique ridge; attachment for the mylohyoid muscle; forms floor of mouth.

Sublingual fossa and submandibular fossa

Sublingual fossa contains sublingual gland; submandibular fossa contains submandibular gland.

Mandibular foramen

Opening on the medial ramus; entry to the mandibular canal; landmark for blocks.

Lingula

Bony spine overhanging the mandibular foramen; attachment for the sphenomandibular ligament.

Common weak fracture sites of mandible

Angle of mandible, alveolus of canine, and condylar neck.

Alveolar process resorption effect on canal

Canal ends up closer to the superior border; may disappear, leaving nerve unprotected.

Paranasal sinuses overview

Paired air-filled cavities that lighten the skull, resonant sounds, and supply mucus.

Palpable paranasal sinuses

Frontal and maxillary sinuses can be palpated; sphenoidal and ethmoidal usually cannot.

Maxillary sinus ostium drainage

Drainage ostium is higher than the sinus floor, which can promote chronic sinusitis.

Primary sinusitis

Inflammation of sinus mucous membranes due to allergy or infection within the sinus.

Secondary sinusitis

Inflammation from adjacent infections, such as dental infections.

Balloon sinuplasty

Newer therapy using a balloon to open blocked sinus passages and improve drainage.

Skull fossae

Two large depressions on the external skull: temporal fossa and infratemporal fossa.

Bones forming the temporal fossa

Zygomatic, Frontal, Sphenoid (greater wing), Temporal, Parietal.

Infratemporal crest

Formed by the greater wing of the sphenoid; provides the inferior border between temporal and infratemporal fossae.

Structures in infratemporal fossa

Maxillary artery and branches, pterygoid venous plexus, pterygoid muscles, part of mandibular nerve (incl. inferior alveolar and lingual nerves).

Passage to orbit from infratemporal fossa

Via the inferior orbital fissure at the anterior and superior end of the fossa.