General Description

Head

The ___  is anatomically complex, consisting of a series of compartments.

cranial cavity, two ears, two orbits, two nasal cavities, and an oral cavity

Major Compartments of the Head

Cranial Cavity

It is the largest compartment, containing the brain and associated membranes (meninges).

It contain the eyes, they are cone-shaped chambers containing the eyes. They are inferior to the anterior aspect of the cranial cavity, with the apex directed posteromedially.

Two Orbits

Nasal Cavities

are located between the orbits and are the upper parts of the respiratory tract.

Nasal Cavities

They contain walls, floors, and ceilings made of bone and cartilage.

Nares

The anterior openings of the nasal cavities, also known as nostrils.

Choanae

The posterior openings of the nasal cavities, also known as the posterior nasal apertures.

Paranasal Sinuses

Air-filled extensions of the nasal cavities, projecting into surrounding bones. They include lateral, superior, and posterior extensions.

Maxillary Sinuses

The largest paranasal sinuses, located inferior to the orbits.

Oral Cavity

It is inferior to the nasal cavities and is separated by the hard and soft palates. The floor is composed of soft tissues.

Oral Fissure

The anterior opening to the oral cavity, commonly known as the mouth.

Oropharyngeal isthmus

The posterior opening of the oral cavity, connecting it to the pharynx. It can be opened and closed by surrounding soft tissues.

Infratemporal Fossa

The infratemporal fossa is an area between the posterior aspect of the mandible and the lateral plate of the pterygoid process, posterior to the upper jaw.

Infratemporal Fossa

It is a conduit for the mandibular nerve (V3), which passes between the cranial and oral cavities.

pterygopalatine fossa

It is located just posterior to the upper jaw. It communicates with the cranial cavity, infratemporal fossa, orbit, nasal cavity, and oral cavity.

pterygopalatine fossa

The maxillary nerve (V2) passes through it.

Face

It is the anterior aspect of the head and contains muscles that move the skin relative to the underlying bone. It controls the anterior openings to the orbits and oral cavity.

Scalp

It covers the superior, posterior, and lateral regions of the head.

Neck

It extends from the head above to the shoulders and thorax below. Its superior boundary is along the inferior margins of the mandible and bone features on the posterior aspect of the skull.

Posterior Neck

It is higher than the anterior neck to connect cervical viscera with the posterior openings of the nasal and oral cavities.

Inferior Boundary of the Neck

It extends from the top of the sternum, along the clavicle, and onto the adjacent acromion, a bony projection of the scapula. Posteriorly, the inferior limit of the neck is less well defined, but can be approximated by a line between the acromion and the spinous process of vertebra CVII, which is prominent and easily palpable.

inferior border of the nexk

It encloses the base of the neck.