Osteology of the Skull

Flashcards covering key vocabulary related to the osteology of the skull.

Neurocranium

The upper part of the skull, composed of 8 bones that enclose the brain.

Viscerocranium

The facial skeleton, consisting of 14 bones that make up the face.

Sutures

Immovable joints in which the plates of the skull fuse.

Frontal Bone

The bone that forms the forehead and the upper part of the eye sockets.

Parietal Bone

Two bones that form the upper sides and roof of the skull.

Temporal Bone

Two bones that form the sides and base of the skull.

Occipital Bone

The bone that forms the back and base of the skull.

Ethmoid Bone

A delicate bone that contributes to the roof of the nasal cavity and the walls of the orbits.

Sphenoid Bone

A complex bone located at the base of the skull, it can be seen as an anchor to which other skull bones attach.

Mandible

The lower jawbone; the largest and strongest bone of the face.

Paranasal Sinuses

Air-filled spaces within the bones of the skull that are lined with mucous membranes.

Condyloid Process

Part of the mandible that articulates with the mandibular fossa of the temporal bone.

Mental Foramen

An opening on the anterior surface of the mandible that allows nerves and blood vessels to pass.

Zygomatic Bone

Also known as the cheekbone; it contributes to the structure of the orbit.

Lacrimal Bone

The smallest bone of the face, forming part of the eye socket.

Vomer

A singular bone that forms part of the nasal septum.