Anatomy Skull Flashcards

Anatomy skull notes converted into flashcards

Anatomical Position

Palms supinated, face looking forward, feet together, toes forward.

Anatomical Planes

Sagittal, transverse, coronal.

Flexion

Movement that decreases the angle between bones.

Extension

Movement that increases the angle between bones.

Dorsiflexion

Lifting toes upward.

Plantar Flexion

Pointing toes downward.

Abduction

Moves a limb away from the midline.

Adduction

Moves a limb toward the midline.

Medial Rotation

Turns a limb inward.

Lateral Rotation

Turns a limb outward.

Supination

Turns the palm up.

Pronation

Turns the palm down.

Eversion of the foot

Turns the sole outward.

Inversion of the foot

Turns the sole inward.

Articulation

The site where two or more bones meet (a joint).

Fibrous Joints

Joined by fibrous tissue, little to no movement, designed for stability.

Cartilaginous Joints

Bones joined by cartilage, provide stability and limited movement.

Synovial Joints

Articular surfaces covered with hyaline cartilage, enclosed by a fibrous capsule lined with synovial membrane that secretes fluid, capsule reinforced with ligaments, allow mobility more than stability.

Superficial Fascia

Under skin.

Deep Fascia

Dense fibrous wrapping muscles.

Visceral Fascia

Surrounds organs.

Isometric Muscle Contraction

Muscle generates tension without changing length or moving a joint.

Concentric Muscle Contraction

Muscle shortens while generating force, overcoming gravity.

Eccentric Muscle Contraction

Muscle lengthens under tension but still generates force (e.g., lowering during push-up or squat).

Body (Bony Feature)

Main portion.

Head (Bony Feature)

Enlarged rounded end.

Neck (Bony Feature)

Constricted area between head and body.

Ramus (Bony Feature)

Branch off the body.

Condyle

Smooth, rounded articular surface.

Facet

Small, flat articular area.

Crest (Bone Feature)

Prominent ridge, less sharp.

Spine (Bone Feature)

Narrow, thorn-like, more pronounced.

Fossa

Hollow area.

Fovea

Small pit.

Groove/Sulcus

Elongated depression.

Foramen

Hole.

Canal or Meatus

Tunnel-like passage.

Axial Skeleton

Skull, vertebral column (vertebrae, discs, sacrum, coccyx), thoracic cage (sternum, ribs, costal cartilages).

Skull Function

Protect brain and brainstem, protect sensory organs, attachment for muscles and ligaments.

Cranial Bones

Frontal, parietal (x2), occipital, temporal (x2), sphenoid, ethmoid.

Facial Bones

Maxilla, zygomatic bone, nasal bone, mandible.

Sutures in the Skull

Fibrous joints: Coronal, sagittal, lambdoid.

Coronal Suture

Frontal bone and two parietal bones.

Sagittal Suture

Two parietal bones.

Lambdoid Suture

Occipital bone and two parietal bones.

Synostosis

Permanent fusion of two or more bones that were previously separate.

Craniosynostosis

Premature fusion of cranial sutures causing skull deformity and brain pressure.

Pterion

Junction on lateral skull where frontal, parietal, temporal, and sphenoid bones meet; weakest point.

Middle Meningeal Artery Location

Lies deep to the pterion.

Frontal Bone

Forms the forehead and contributes to the upper margin of each orbital cavity.

Superciliary Arch

Deep to eyebrows.

Supraorbital Notch

Contains supraorbital artery, vein, nerve.

Supraorbital Nerve

Branch of trigeminal nerve supplying muscles and skin of the forehead.

Orbital Cavities

Two cone-shaped depressions in the skull housing the eyes (formed by frontal, zygomatic, and maxilla bones).

Nasal Cavities

Formed by maxilla and nasal bones.

Nasal Septum

Formed by vomer and ethmoid bones; divides nasal cavity into left and right halves.

Parietal Bones

The lateral and superior walls of the skull.

Temporal Lines

Bony feature on the parietal bones; temporalis muscle attaches there.

Temporalis Muscle Function

Mastication (chewing).

Temporal Bone Features

Mandibular fossa, zygomatic process, mastoid process, tympanic part.

Mandibular Fossa

Smooth dip in temporal bone; bony socket of the TMJ (temporomandibular joint).

Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ)

Only mobile joint in the skull.

Zygomatic Process

Articulates with the zygomatic bone.

Mastoid Process

An attachment site for muscles.

Tympanic Part of Temporal Bone

The opening of the external acoustic meatus leading to the ear canal.

Mandible

The lower jawbone, strongest and largest facial bone.

Maxilla

The upper jawbone.

Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Type

Synovial condyloid joint.

TMJ Movements

Depression (lowering), elevation, retraction (backwards), protraction (forwards), side to side.

Muscles Moving the TMJ

Temporalis - elevates and retracts; Masseter - elevates; Pterygoids - side to side, protraction.

Occipital Bone

The posterior wall of the skull.

External Occipital Protuberance

Attachment site for muscles and ligaments, just above the foramen magnum.

Occipital Condyles

Pair of oval-shaped projections on either side of the foramen magnum that articulate with C1 (atlas).

Foramen Magnum

Brain stem transitioning into the spinal cord.

Sphenoid Bone

Butterfly shaped, articulates with 12 other bones.

Ethmoid

Olfactory nerve perforations at the base of the cranium

Sphenoid

Hypophyses/pituitary fossa at the base of the cranium

Hypophyses

Pituitary gland.

Divisions of the Base of the Cranium

Anterior cranial fossa, middle cranial fossa, posterior cranial fossa, pituitary/hypophysial fossa.

Anterior Cranial Fossa

Houses frontal lobes.

Middle Cranial Fossa

Houses temporal lobes, cranial nerves.

Posterior Cranial Fossa

Houses cerebellum.

Pituitary Fossa

Houses pituitary gland.