Anatomy Lab Practical 2 (Fall Semester)

Incus

Transmits vibratory motion from the malleus to the stapes in the middle ear.

Malleus

Receives sound vibrations from the tympanic membrane and transmits them to the incus.

Stapes

Transmits vibrations from the incus to the oval window of the inner ear.

Ethmoid sinus

Lightens skull weight and humidifies/warms inhaled air.

Cribriform plate

Supports the olfactory bulb and allows passage of olfactory nerve fibers.

Crista galli

Serves as an attachment point for the falx cerebri (dura mater).

Middle nasal concha

Increases air turbulence in the nasal cavity to warm, moisten, and filter air.

Perpendicular plate of ethmoid bone

Forms the superior part of the bony nasal septum.

Ethmoid bone

Contributes to the anterior cranial fossa, nasal septum, and orbital walls.

Anterior cranial fossa

Houses and protects the frontal lobes of the brain.

Middle cranial fossa

Houses and protects the temporal lobes and pituitary gland.

Posterior cranial fossa

Houses and protects the cerebellum, pons, and medulla oblongata.

Frontal sinus

Lightens skull weight and acts as a voice resonating chamber.

Glabella

Smooth area between the eyebrows on the frontal bone.

Supraorbital margin / Superciliary arch

Supraorbital margin: Forms the superior protective boundary of the eye socket. Superciliary arch: Bony ridge above the eye socket supporting the eyebrow.

Frontal bone

Forms the forehead and the superior walls/orbits of the eyes.

Hyoid

Unattached anchor bone supporting the tongue and larynx muscles.

Inferior nasal concha

Increases surface area and turbulence in the nasal cavity to filter, heat, and humidify air.

Vomer

Forms the inferior and posterior part of the nasal septum.

Lacrimal bone

Houses the lacrimal sac/fossa for tear drainage.

Alveolar process of mandible

Supports the lower teeth.

Condylar process of mandible

Articulates with the temporal bone to form the temporomandibular joint (TMJ).

Coronoid process of mandible

Insertion point for the temporalis muscle (jaw closure).

Genial tubercle

Attachment site for tongue and suprahyoid muscles (genioglossus/geniohyoid).

Angle of mandible

Corner junction point between the body and ramus of the mandible.

Mandibular foramen

Passageway for the inferior alveolar nerve and vessels supplying lower teeth.

Mandibular notch

U-shaped notch between coronoid and condylar processes.

Ramus of mandible

Vertical posterior portion of the mandible.

Mental foramen

Passageway for the mental nerve and vessels to the chin and lower lip.

Mental protuberance

Bony prominence forming the chin.

Alveolar process of maxilla

Supports the upper teeth.

Maxillary sinus

Largest paranasal sinus; lightens skull and humidifies air.

Palatine process of maxilla

Forms the anterior hard palate.

Nasal bone

Forms the bridge of the nose.

Foramen magnum

Passageway connecting the cranial cavity with the spinal canal (brainstem/spinal cord transition).

Inion / External occipital protuberance

External occipital protuberance: Attachment site for the nuchal ligament and trapezius muscle. Inion: Most prominent point of the external occipital protuberance.

Occipital condyle

Articulates with the atlas (C1 vertebra) to allow nodding of the head.

Occipital bone

Forms the posterior and base wall of the cranium.

Palatine bone

Forms the posterior part of the hard palate and nasal cavity wall.

Parietal bone

Forms the sides and roof of the cranial cavity.

Foramen ovale

Passageway for the mandibular nerve (V3 of cranial nerve V).

Foramen rotundum

Passageway for the maxillary nerve (V2).

Foramen spinosum

Passageway for the middle meningeal artery.

Lateral pterygoid plate

Attachment site for pterygoid muscles aiding jaw movement.

Medial pterygoid plate

Attachment site for tensor veli palatini and pterygoid muscles.

Sella turcica

Bony depression housing and protecting the pituitary gland.

Sphenoid sinus

Paranasal sinus lightening the sphenoid bone.

Superior orbital fissure

Passageway for cranial nerves controlling eye movements (III, IV, V1, VI).

Sphenoid bone

Keystone bone of the cranial floor articulating with all other cranial bones.

Coronal suture

Immovable fibrous joint uniting frontal and parietal bones.

Lambdoid suture

Immovable fibrous joint uniting occipital and parietal bones.

Sagittal suture

Immovable fibrous joint uniting left and right parietal bones.

Squamous suture

Immovable fibrous joint uniting temporal and parietal bones.

External acoustic meatus

Canal conducting sound waves to the tympanic membrane.

Foramen lacerum

Passage sealed by cartilage in life, transmitting minor nerves/vessels.

Internal acoustic meatus

Passageway for facial (CN VII) and vestibulocochlear (CN VIII) nerves.

Jugular foramen

Passageway for internal jugular vein and cranial nerves IX, X, XI.

Mastoid process

Attachment site for neck muscles (e.g., sternocleidomastoid).

Styloid process of temporal bone

Attachment site for tongue and pharynx muscles/ligaments.

Temporal bone

Forms the inferolateral walls of the skull and houses middle/inner ear structures.

Zygomatic arch

Structural bridge providing attachment for the masseter muscle.

Zygomatic bone

Forms the prominence of the cheek and part of the lateral orbital wall.

Temporal process of zygomatic bone

Joins the zygomatic process of the temporal bone to form the zygomatic arch.

Buccinator

Eating / Chewing: Compresses the cheek against the teeth to keep food centered on the grinding surface during mastication.

Depressor anguli oris

Communication / Expression: Depresses the corner of the mouth for non-verbal expression and emotional communication.

Depressor labii inferioris

Eating / Drinking: Pulls the lower lip downward (used during drinking from a cup or speaking).

Anterior belly of digastric

Swallowing / Eating: Elevates the hyoid bone and depresses the mandible to initiate the first phase of swallowing food.

Levator labii superioris

Eating / Facial Expression: Elevates the upper lip (used during eating, smiling, or facial hygiene).

Masseter

Eating / Mastication: Powerful elevation of the mandible to bite and chew food solids during meals.

Nasalis

Respiration / Hygiene: Flares or compresses the nasal passages during heavy breathing or nose blowing.

Frontalis

Grooming / Sensory Awareness: Raises eyebrows and wrinkles the forehead when looking upward during personal grooming or scanning the environment.

Occipitalis

Postural Adjustment: Fixes and retracts the scalp to stabilize head posture during movement.

Orbicularis oculi

Hygiene / Protection: Closes the eyelids tightly to protect the eyes during face washing, showering, or bright sunlight.

Orbicularis oris

Eating / Drinking / Speaking: Closes and protrudes the lips (essential for sealing lips around a spoon, drinking from a straw, and speech articulation).

Risorius

Communication: Pulls the corners of the mouth laterally during smiling and social interaction.

Sternocleidomastoid

Mobility / Scanning: Rotates and flexes the neck, allowing a patient to scan their surroundings, look both ways while walking, or turn to talk.

Temporalis

Eating / Mastication: Elevates and retracts the mandible to firmly close the jaw and grind food during eating.

Zygomaticus major

Social Communication: Elevates the corners of the mouth upward and outward during smiling and laughing.

Zygomaticus minor

Facial Expression: Elevates the upper lip during speaking and expression.

Atlanto-occipital

Articulation allowing flexion, extension, and lateral bending of the head ("yes" movement).

Tempromandibular

Articulation enabling jaw movement during chewing and speaking.

Arbor vitae

Branching white matter inside the cerebellum bringing information to and from the cortex.

Cerebellar hemispheres

Coordinate complex voluntary movements, balance, and posture.

Falx cerebelli

Small dural fold separating the two cerebellar hemispheres.

Folia

Parallel folds/ridges on the cerebellar cortex that increase surface area.

Tentorium cerebelli

Horizontal dural fold separating the cerebrum from the cerebellum.

Vermis

Narrow worm-like midline structure connecting cerebellar hemispheres; helps maintain balance and posture.

Central sulcus

Prominent groove separating the frontal lobe from the parietal lobe.

Corpus callosum

Large white matter tract bundle connecting left and right hemispheres for interhemispheric communication.

Falx cerebri

Vertical dural fold in the longitudinal fissure separating the left and right cerebral hemispheres.

Fornix

C-shaped fiber bundle that outputs signals from the hippocampus to the mammillary bodies.

Frontal lobe / Pre-frontal cortex

Frontal lobe: Executive functions, voluntary motor control, reasoning, decision-making, and personality. Pre-frontal cortex: Complex cognitive behavior, personality expression, planning, and social moderation.

Lateral sulcus

Deep groove separating the temporal lobe from the frontal and parietal lobes.

Occipital lobe

Processing primary visual information received from the eyes.

Parietal lobe

Processing somatic sensory information (touch, temperature, pain, proprioception).

Parieto-occipital sulcus

Deep cleft separating the parietal lobe from the occipital lobe.

Postcentral gyrus

Primary somatosensory cortex; receives tactile and proprioceptive sensory input.

Precentral gyrus

Primary motor cortex; initiates voluntary skeletal muscle movements.

Temporal lobe

Processing auditory information, language comprehension (Wernicke's area), memory, and emotion.

Hypothalamus

Master regulator of autonomic nervous system and endocrine functions (temperature, hunger, thirst, sleep).