Anatomy of the Skull and Cervical Vertebrae

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the anatomical features of the human mandible, cranial fossae, skull sutures, and cervical vertebrae based on lecture notes.

Mental foramen

A foramen located on the body of the mandible or the anterior aspect of the skull.

Mandibular notch

The curved notch between the coronoid process and the head of the mandible.

Coronoid process

A thin, triangular eminence on the superior aspect of the ramus of the mandible.

Lingula

A small bony prominence on the medial surface of the mandible near the mandibular foramen.

Mylohyoid line

A line on the internal surface of the mandible for muscle attachment.

Pterygoid fovea

A depression on the neck of the mandible for the attachment of the lateral pterygoid muscle.

Mental protuberance

The bony prominence of the chin located on the anterior aspect of the mandible.

Supraorbital foramen/notch

An opening or notch located on the frontal bone above the orbit.

Optic canal

A passage through the sphenoid bone for the optic nerve.

Superior orbital fissure

A slit-like opening in the sphenoid bone between the greater and lesser wings.

Inferior orbital fissure

A gap between the maxilla and the greater wing of the sphenoid bone.

Foramen rotundum

A circular foramen in the sphenoid bone that opens into the pterygopalatine fossa.

Infraorbital foramen

An opening in the maxilla bone located below the infraorbital margin of the orbit.

Crista galli

A median ridge of the ethmoid bone in the anterior cranial fossa.

Cribriform plate

The horizontal plate of the ethmoid bone with numerous foramina in the anterior cranial fossa.

Sella turcica

A saddle-shaped depression in the body of the sphenoid bone containing the pituitary fossa.

Dorsum sellae

The posterior wall of the sella turcica in the middle cranial fossa.

Foramen lacerum

A foramen located between the temporal and the sphenoid bone.

Foramen spinosum

A small foramen located in the greater wing of the sphenoid bone.

Foramen ovale

An oval-shaped foramen in the greater wing of the sphenoid bone.

Internal acoustic meatus

A canal in the petrous part of the temporal bone in the posterior cranial fossa.

Hypoglossal canal

A canal in the occipital bone that transmits the hypoglossal nerve.

Foramen magnum

The large opening in the basilar part of the occipital bone for the passage of the spinal cord.

Jugular foramen

A foramen located between the occipital and the temporal bone.

Incisive fossa

A depression located on the inferior view of the hard palate/maxilla.

Greater palatine foramen

An opening in the hard palate/palatine bone for the passage of the greater palatine nerve.

Vomer

A bone that contributes to the formation of the nasal septum.

Stylomastoid foramen

An opening of the temporal bone located between the styloid and mastoid processes.

Carotid canal

A canal in the temporal bone that transmits the internal carotid artery.

Bregma

The point on the skull where the coronal suture and the sagittal suture intersect.

Lambda

The point on the skull where the sagittal suture and the lambdoid suture intersect.

Gonial flaring

Flaring at the angle of the mandible, a feature often displayed in male mandibles.

$C1$ (Atlas)

The first cervical vertebra that supports the skull.

$C2$ (Axis)

The second cervical vertebra, distinguished by the presence of a dens.

Hyoid bone

A U-shaped bone located in the neck between the mandible and the larynx.

Mastoid process

A conical prominence of the temporal bone behind the ear; noted as smaller in female skulls.