Lab 2: Cranial and Facial Bones

axial skeleton

composed of the bones along the central axis of the body, including the vertebral column, sternum, ribs and skull

frontal bone

temporal bone

parietal bone

occipital bone

sutures

joint where the cranial bones have joined together

mandible

lower jaw bone

zygomatic bone

cheek bone

lacrimal bone

small fragile bone making up part of the front inner walls of each eye socket and providing room for the passage of the lacrimal ducts

vomer

nasal septum (thin, flat bone)

palatine bone

two irregularly shaped bones that form the back of the hard palate and help form the nasal cavity and the floor of the orbits

nasal bone

forms the bridge of the nose

inferior nasal conchae

form part of lateral walls of nasal cavity

foramen

hole in a bone for transmission of blood vessels and nerves

fossa

shallow depression on bone surface

process

prominent projection on a bone

protuberance

a bony outgrowth or protruding part

condyle

Rounded process that usually articulates with another bone

fissure

an opening; a groove; a split

canal

tubular passage or tunnel in a bone

ramus

extension of a bone making an angle with the rest of the structure

alveous

a pit or socket

flat bones

bones of the ribs, shoulder blades, pelvis, and skull

short bones

bones of the wrist and ankles

long bones

longer than they are wide

irregular bones

have elaborate and complex shapes, including bones of the vertebrae and face

sesimoid bones

small, knobular bones; embedded in tendons

supraorbital margin

superior rim of the eye socket located on the frontal bone

supraorbital foramen

holes above eye sockets

glabella

smooth area between the eyes

mandibular fossa

the depression in the temporal bone into which the condyle of the mandible fits

external acoustic meatus

ear canal

internal acoustic meatus

passage for CN VIII from the inner ear to the brain

styloid process

process extending downward from the temporal bone on each side of the skull

mastoid process

round projection on the temporal bone behind the ear

carotid canal

passageway for internal carotid artery

foramen magnum

large opening at the base of the skull through which the brain connects to the spinal cord.

occipital condyles

rounded projections lateral to the foramen magnum that articulate with the first cervical vertebra (atlas)

hypoglossal canal

holes through occipital condyles

external occipital protuberance

bump on back of head

external occipital crest

extends downward from the external occipital protuberance

superior nuchal line of occipital bone

one of the four curved lines on the external surface of the occipital bone: is an area for muscle attachment.

inferior nuchal line of occipital bone

line closest to foramen magnum

sphenoid bone

forms part of the base of the skull and parts of the floor and sides of the orbit

pterygoid process

process of the sphenoid bone, consisting of two plates

sella turcica

depression in the sphenoid bone where the pituitary gland is located

optic canal (foramen)

round hole through the sphenoid bone; carries the optic nerve from the eye to the brain

optic groove

transverse groove that crosses to the front of the saddle, above the seat

superior orbital fissure

middle opening in back of eye

inferior orbital fissure

fissure in the orbit floor between maxilla and greater wing of sphenoid

foramen rotundum

foramen ovale

foramen spinosum

ethmoid bone

forms part of the posterior portion of the nose, the orbit, and the floor of the cranium

crista galli

horn on ethmoid bone

cribriform plate

horizontal plate of the ethmoid bone separating the cranial cavity from the nasal cavity (flat, top spot)

perpendicular plate

forms superior part of nasal septum

superior nasal concha

not a named bone, but part of the ethmoid bone. Above middle nasal concha

middle nasal concha

the middle thin, spongy, bony plate with curved margins, part of the ethmoidal labyrinth, projecting from the lateral wall of the nasal cavity and separating the superior meatus from the middle meatus;

coronal suture

the suture between the parietal and frontal bones of the skull

squamous suture

suture between parietal and temporal bones

lambdoid suture

suture between parietal bones and occipital bone

sagittal suture

suture between parietal bones

mandibular ramus

vertical extension of the body on either side

coronoid process

mandibular notch

head of mandible

mandibular foramen

inside, side hole of mandible

mental foramen

front hole on chin

mental protuberance

middle bulge of chin

maxilla

upper jaw

alveoli

the cavities where the teeth sit inside

alveolar process

a ridge that forms the borders of the upper and lower jaws and contains the sockets of the teeth

infraorbital foramen

opening under the orbit carrying the infraorbital nerves and blood vessels the the nasal region