Head and Neck Anatomy: Bones, Muscles, and Fossae

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the neurocranium, viscerocranium, muscles of facial expression, mastication, tongue, neck, and eye, along with pharyngeal and laryngeal structures from the lecture notes.

Frontal bone

A neurocranium bone with vascular supply from the middle meningeal artery; unique landmarks include the superciliary arches and temporal lines.

Ethmoid bone

A neurocranium bone supplied by the anterior and posterior ethmoidal and sphenopalatine arteries; landmarks include the nasal concha.

Sphenoid bone

A neurocranium bone supplied by the middle meningeal and internal carotid arteries; landmarks include the anterior and posterior clinoid processes.

Occipital bone

A neurocranium bone supplied by the middle meningeal artery; landmarks include the supreme, superior, and inferior nuchal lines.

Temporal bone

A neurocranium bone supplied by the middle meningeal, posterior auricular, and stylomastoid arteries; landmarks include articular tubercles and the temporal part of the zygomatic arch.

Mandible bone

A viscerocranium bone supplied by the inferior alveolar, sublingual, and submental arteries; landmarks include the mandibular notch, mental protuberance, and mandible symphysis.

Temporal Fossa

A space bounded by the temporal lines (posterior), zygomatic and frontal bones (interior), and zygomatic arch (lateral); its roof is the temporal fascia and it contains the upper portion of the temporalis muscle.

Infratemporal Fossa

A space bordered posteriorly by the tympanic plate, mastoid, and styloid process; contains the inferior temporalis, lateral and medial pterygoid muscles, otic ganglion, maxillary artery, pterygoid venous plexus, and mandibular nerve.

Pterygopalatine Fossa

Located medial to the infratemporal fossa; contains the 3rd part of the maxillary artery, the maxillary nerve ($CN\,V$), and the pterygopalatine ganglion.

Genioglossus

An extrinsic tongue muscle innervated by the hypoglossal nerve ($CN\,XII$); pulls the tongue anteriorly (protrusion) and retracts the apex of the protruded tongue.

Palatoglossus

An extrinsic tongue muscle innervated by the Vagus nerve ($CN\,X$); elevates the posterior tongue and depresses the soft palate.

Superior longitudinal muscle

An intrinsic tongue muscle innervated by $CN\,XII$; elevates the apex and sides to curl it upwards and shortens the tongue.

Occipitofrontalis (frontal belly)

A muscle of facial expression originating at the epicranial aponeurosis and inserting into the skin of the eyebrows; innervated by the temporal branch of $CN\,VII$, it elevates eyebrows and wrinkles forehead skin.

Orbicularis oculi

A muscle of facial expression originating from the medial palpebral ligament and lacrimal bone; acts to close eyelids gently (palpebral part) or tightly (orbital part).

Buccinator

A muscle of facial expression innervated by the buccal branch of $CN\,VII$; presses cheeks against molar teeth and works with the tongue to keep food in the mouth during chewing.

Zygomaticus major

A muscle of facial expression that elevates the labial commissure bilaterally to smile (happiness) or unilaterally to sneer (disdain).

Platysma

A muscle of facial expression innervated by cervical branches of $CN\,VII$; depresses the mandible against tension and tenses the skin of the inferior face and neck (stress).

Temporalis

A muscle of mastication innervated by deep temporal branches of $CN\,V$; elevates the mandible to close the jaws and its posterior fibers retract the mandible.

Lateral pterygoid

A muscle of mastication innervated by $CN\,V$; it protracts the mandible, depresses the chin, and swings the jaw toward the contralateral side for large chewing movements.

Digastric muscle

A suprahyoid muscle innervated by both the facial ($CN\,VII$) and mandibular ($CN\,V$) nerves; depresses the mandible against resistance.

Omohyoid muscle

An infrahyoid muscle consisting of superior and inferior bellies innervated by the ansa cervicalis ($C1-C3$); it fixes and depresses the hyoid bone.

Sternocleidomastoid (SCM)

A muscle innervated by the spinal accessory nerve ($CN\,XI$); responsible for lateral flexion of the head and bringing the chin toward the chest.

Superior oblique muscle

An eye muscle innervated by the trochlear nerve ($CN\,IV$); abducts, elevates, and laterally rotates the eyeball.

Lateral rectus muscle

An eye muscle innervated by the abducent nerve ($CN\,VI$); it abducts the eyeball.

Superior pharyngeal constrictor

A pharyngeal muscle that originates from the pterygoid hamulus and pterygomandibular raphe; constricts the walls of the pharynx during swallowing.

Cricothyroid

A laryngeal muscle innervated by the external laryngeal nerve; it stretches and tenses the vocal ligament.

Posterior cricoarytenoid

A laryngeal muscle innervated by the inferior laryngeal nerve; its primary action is to abduct the vocal folds.