anatomy - the cranium

list the bones of the neurocranium

Occipital bone, parietal bone(2), frontal bone, temporal bone(2), ethmoid bone, sphenoid bone.

what is the superior nuchal line?

a ridge, horizontally traced from the external occipital protuberance toward the mastoid process

what is the external occipital protuberance?

attachment for the nuchal ligament, which in turn binds the skull to the vertebral column

what is the occipital condyle?

bony process that connects skull to the vertebrae

what is the mastoid process?

lump behind the earlobe; filled with small air sinuses that communicate with the middle-ear cavity

what is the zygomatic arch?

connection of zygomatic bone and temporal bone

what is the styloid process?

stylohyoid attachment site

where is the coronal suture located?

between frontal and parietal bones

where is the sagittal suture located?

between the two parietal bones

where is the lambdoid suture located?

on the posterior aspect of the skull. It separates the parietal bones from the occipital bone.

how is the sutures in newborns?

flexible fibrous joints

what is the anterior fontanelle?

just a membrane, soft spot in babies head near the frontal and parietal bones

when does the anterior fontanelle usually close?

by the age of two

what is the posterior fontanelle?

just a membrane, soft spot in babies head at the junction of the lambdoid suture

when does the posterior fontanelle usually close?

by the 3-4 months

what is the metopic suture?

remnant of the frontal suture

what is craniosynostosis?

premature closure of cranial sutures, causing the brain to grow unevenly and push the skull out

what separates the cerebral hemispheres?

median longitudinal fissure

what is the central sulcus?

separates frontal and parietal lobes

what is the lateral sulcus?

separates the parietal and temporal lobes

what is the parieto-occipital notch?

a small notch that separates the occipital lobe and parietal lobe.

what is the fifth lobe of the brain?

insula

what is the insula responsible for?

memory and interpretation of taste

what is the medulla?

the base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing. connects to the spinal cord

what is the pons?

the part of the brainstem that links the medulla oblongata and the thalamus. connects to the cerebellum

what comes off of the brainstem?

cranial nerves

what is the cranial meninges?

3 layer protective tissue that surrounds brain and spinal column. Dura matter, piamatter, arachnoid

what is the periosteal layer?

the more superficial layer, forms the periosteum on the internal surface of the cranial bones

what is the meningeal layer?

the outermost covering of the brain and continues as the dura mater of the spinal cord.

what is the arachnoid mater in the cranial meninges?

cerebrospinal fluid, acts of as a cushion to prevent the brain from banging on the skull

what is the dural fold?

inward reflection of the meningeal layer of dural matter

what is the pia mater?

internal layer that clings to the surface of the brain

what is bacterial meningitis?

acute inflammation of the meninges and CSF

what are the dural folds?

falx cerebri, tentorium cerebelli, falx cerebelli

where is falx cerebri located?

between cerebral hemispheres

where is the tentorium cerebelli located?

between cerebrum and cerebellum

where is the falx cerebelli located?

between cerebellar hemispheres

what is epidural hematoma?

blood between the dura and the skull.

what causes epidural hematoma?

rupture of middle meningeal artery

what is subdural hematoma?

blood collection under the dura

what causes subdural hematoma?

rupture of bridging veins

what do dural sinuses do?

drain blood into the internal jugular vein and return CSF to the blood stream

what is found on the anterior cranial fossa?

crista galli, lesser wing of sphenoid, cribriform plate

what is the crista galli?

attachment for falx cerebri

what is the lesser wing of sphenoid?

attachment of tentorium cerebelli

what nerve passes through the anterior cranial fossa?

cranial nerve 1

what is the foramen rotundum?

exit for the maxillary branch of trigeminal nerve

what is the foramen ovale?

exit for the mandibular branch of the trigeminal nerbe

what does the sella turcica hold?

pituitary gland

what is the foramen spinosum?

middle meningeal artery

what is located on the middle cranial fossa?

sella turcica, foramen rotundum, foramen ovale and foramen spinosum

what is the superior orbital fissure?

space through which cranial nerves III, IV, V(1), VI travel from middle cranial fossa into orbit

what is on the posterior cranial fossa?

jugular foramen, foramen magnum, hypoglossal canal, and internal auditory meatus

what is the jugular foramen?

junction of occipital and temporal bones; allows internal jugular vein, vagus, spinal accessory, and glossopharyngeal to exit.

what is the hypoglossal canal?

at the anterolateral edge of each condyle, where the hypoglossal nerve passes through

what is the internal auditory meatus?

the opening through which the facial and vestibulocochlear nerve pass

what is the foramen magnum?

large hole in the occipital bone where the spinal cord, vertebral arteries, and part of the spinal accessory nerve enters.