skull functions

frontal bone

forms the superior
orbits, floor of anterior cranial
fossa

Parietal Bone

forms side and top of
the cranium

Occipital Bone

forms floor and back
of the cranium

Temporal Bone

sides of skull, Lateral
inferior skull

Ethmoid Bone

allows passage of
Olfactory nerve, contains sinuses, part of
orbit

Sphenoid Bone

Keystone of cranium
holds pituitary gland, part of orbit

Anterior Cranial Fossa

anterior part of
cranial floor

Middle Cranial Fossa

middle part of
cranial floor

Posterior Cranial Fossa

posterior part of
cranial floor

Glabella

smooth area
between eyes

Squamous part of Frontal
Bone

main part of the
forehead

Supraorbital Margin

superior border of
the eye socket

Supraorbital Foramen
(Notch)

allows passage of
blood vessels and nerves

Coronal Suture

articulation
between Frontal and Parietal bones

Frontonasal Suture

articulation between
nasal and frontal bone

Sagittal Suture

articulation between
the parietal bones

Lambdoid Suture

articulation between
the Occipital bone and Parietals

Squamosal Suture

articulation between
temporal and parietal bones

Foramen Magnum

spinal cord
passageway

Occipital Condyle

articulates with
the Atlas

Hypoglossal Canal

Passage for CN #12,
the Hypoglossal Nerve

Squamous Region/ Part

found near the
parietal bones

Tympanic Region/ Part

surrounds external
ear opening

Mastoid Process

Site of muscle attachment,
infection in this projection can lead to; Mastoiditis
(infection of mastoid process), Meningitis (inflamed
brain meninges)

External Auditory
(Acoustic) Meatus

canal that leads to
eardrum/ middle ear

Styloid Process

attachment point for
muscles and ligaments of the neck

Zygomatic Process

with Zygomatic
Bone forms Zygomatic arch

Occipitomastoid Suture

articulation between
occipital bone and petrous region of temporal
bone

Stylomastoid Foramen

passage CN #7, the
Facial Nerve

Foramen Lacerum

allows passage of the
internal carotid and small nerves

Mandibular Fossa

socket for the
Mandibular Condyle of the Mandible

Carotid Canal

passageway for
Internal Carotid

Petrous Region/ Part

lateral portion of the
skull base

Jugular Foramen

passage for CN #9, 10,
11 and Internal Jugular Vein

Internal Acoustic Meatus

passage of CN # 7, 8

(Cranial Nerve)

Sella Turcica

turk's Saddle, holds
Pituitary gland

Hypophyseal Fossa of the
Sella Turcica

holds the Pituitary
Gland

Optic Canal

passageway for the
Optic Nerves, CN #2

Superior Orbital Fissure

passageway for CN #’s
3, 4, 5, 6

Inferior Orbital Fissure

Nerve passage

Foramen Rotundum

allows passage of a branch
of the 5th CN

Foramen Ovale

Allows passage of a
branch of the 5th CN

Foramen Spinosum

passage arteries and
nerves

Middle Nasal Concha

help turbinate the air
coming into nasal cavity

Lateral Masses (of Ethmoid),
left & right

form medial orbital
plates

Perpendicular Plate

Superior part of the
nasal septum

Crista Galli

attachment point of
the Dura Mater

Cribriform Plate

holds Olfactory
foramina, passageways for the Olfactory CN
#1

Horizontal Plate

Cribriform plates
and Crista Galli

Zygomatic Bone

forms cheek

Palatine bone

forms part of the hard
palate

Vomer

unpaired facial bone,
Inferior nasal septum

Maxilla

keystone facial bone forms
part of orbit, hard palate and comprises upper
jaw

Mandible

unpaired bone, bottom
of jaw, mastication

Lacrimal Fossa

passageway for
tears

Inferior Nasal Concha

help turbinate the
air coming into nasal cavity

Hard palate

Palatine Bone
(horizontal plate) and Maxilla (palatine
process), separates oral and nasal cavity

Horizontal Plate

part of the hard palate

Intermaxillary Suture

unites the Palatine
processes of the maxilla

Medial Palatine Suture

unites two Palatine
Bones

Infraorbital Foramen

allows passage of
blood vessels and nerves to nasal region

Alveolar Margin/
Processes

holds the sockets of
the teeth

Body of Mandible

forms the chin

Mental Foramen

transmits Mental
blood vessels and nerves to the lower jaw

Mandibular Condyle/
Condylar Process

articulates with the
Mandibular Fossa of the temporal bone
(Temporomandibular joint)

Coronoid Process

site of muscle
attachment

Mandibular Foramen

– passageway for Mandibular branch of CN #5