Bones of the Skull

Skull

consists of the 8 bones that form the cranium, 14 bones that form the face, and 6 bones in the middle ear

Cranium

made up of the following eight bones, is the portion of the skull that encloses and protects the brain. These bones are joined by jagged fibrous joints that are often referred to as sutures.

Frontal bone

the anterior portion of the cranium that forms the forehead. This bone houses the frontal sinuses and forms the roof of the ethmoid sinuses, the nose and part of the socket that protects the eyeball.

Parietal bones

two of the largest bones of the skull. Together they form most of the roof and upper sides of the cranium.

Occipital bone

forms the back part of the skull and the base of the cranium.

Temporal bones

2 that form the sides and base of the cranium.

External auditory meatus

the opening of the external auditory canal of the outer ear. This canal is located within the temporal bone on each side of the skull. A meatus is the external opening of a canal.

Sphenoid bone

an irregular, wedge-shaped bone at the base of the skull. This bone makes contact with all of the other cranial bones and helps form the base of the cranium, the sides of the skull, and the floors and sides of the eye sockets.

Ethmoid bone

light, spongy bone located at the roof and sides of the nose. Here it separates the nasal cavity from the brain, and it also forms a portion of each orbit. An orbit is the bony socket that surrounds and protects each eyeball.

Auditory ossicles

the three tiny bones located in each middle ear.

Nasal bones

2 that form the upper part of the bridge of the nose.

Zygomatic bones (zye-goh-MAT-ick), also known as

the 2 cheekbones , articulate with the frontal bone that makes up the forehead.

Maxillary bones

the 2 form most of the upper jaw (singular, maxilla). These bones are also known as the maxillae .

Palatine bones

the 2 form the anterior (front) part of the hard palate of the mouth and the floor of the nose.

Lacrimal bones

the 2 that make up part of the orbit (socket of the eye) at the inner angle.

Inferior conchae (KONG-kee or KONG-kay) are

the 2 the thin, scroll-like bones that form part of the interior of the nose.

Vormer bone

forms the base for the nasal septum. The nasal septum is the cartilage wall that divides the two nasal cavities.

Mandible

known as the jawbone , is the only movable bone of the skull. It is attached to the skull at the temporomandibular joint.