The Skull and Cranial Nerves

Vocabulary flashcards generated from lecture notes on the skull, detailing cranial and facial bones, sutures, foramina, paranasal sinuses, and cranial nerve pathways.

Cranium

The 8 bones that enclose the braincase, consisting of the occipital (1), parietal (2), frontal (1), temporal (2), sphenoid (1), and ethmoid (1) bones.

Facial Bones

The 14 bones associated with the face, consisting of the maxillae (2), vomer (1), palatine bones (2), nasal bones (2), inferior nasal conchae (2), zygomatic bones (2), lacrimal bones (2), and mandible (1).

Associated Bones of the Skull

The 7 additional bones associated with the skull, including 6 auditory ossicles enclosed in the temporal bones and 1 hyoid bone.

Calvaria

The skullcap, composed of the frontal bone (1), parietal bones (2), and occipital bone (1).

Sutures

Fibrous joints where very short fibers connect the interlocking edges of articulating bones in the skull.

Coronal Suture

Major cranial suture located between the frontal bone and the parietal bones.

Sagittal Suture

Major cranial suture located along the midline between the two parietal bones.

Lambdoidal (Lambdoid) Suture

Major cranial suture located between the parietal bones and the occipital bone.

Squamosal (Squamous) Suture

Major cranial suture located between the temporal bone and the parietal bone.

Syndesmosis

A fibrous joint classification exemplified by the distal tibiofibular joint ('high ankle sprain').

Gomphosis

A fibrous joint classification located between the tooth root and the skull.

Zygomatic Arch

Bony arch formed by the zygomatic process of the temporal bone and the temporal process of the zygomatic bone.

Temporal Fossa

Bony region located superior and deep to the zygomatic arch.

Infratemporal Fossa

Bony region located inferior and deep to the zygomatic arch.

Hard Palate

Bony palate formed by the palatine processes of the maxillae and the horizontal plates of the palatine bones.

Paranasal Sinuses

Air-filled cavities in the skull bones comprising the frontal sinus, sphenoid sinus, ethmoid sinus (ethmoidal cells), and maxillary sinus.

Bones of the Orbit

The 7 bones forming the orbit: frontal bone, zygomatic bone, maxillary bone, sphenoid bone, ethmoid bone, lacrimal bone, and palatine bone.

Nasal Septum

Nasal partition composed of the perpendicular plate of the ethmoid bone, the vomer bone, and the septal cartilage.

Fontanelles

Soft fibrous areas ('soft spots') where several sutures unite in the fetal/infant skull to allow for molding and remodeling; includes anterior, posterior, mastoid (2), and sphenoid (2) fontanels.

Hyoid Bone

Unique associated skull bone composed of a body, greater horns, and lesser horns, connected to surrounding structures via the stylohyoid ligament, thyrohyoid ligament, digastric muscle, and stylohyoid muscle.

Cribriform Plate

Ethmoid bone structure in the anterior cranial fossa transmitting olfactory nerve fibers (CN I).

Optic Canal

Foramen connecting the middle cranial fossa to the orbit that transmits the optic nerve (CN II) and ophthalmic artery.

Superior Orbital Fissure

Foramen connecting the middle cranial fossa to the orbit transmitting CN III, CN IV, CN VI, ophthalmic division of CN V (V1), and superior ophthalmic vein.

Foramen Rotundum

Foramen connecting the middle cranial fossa to the pterygopalatine fossa that transmits the maxillary division of the trigeminal nerve (CN V2).

Foramen Ovale

Foramen connecting the middle cranial fossa to the infratemporal fossa that transmits the mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve (CN V3).

Foramen Spinosum

Foramen connecting the middle cranial fossa to the infratemporal fossa that transmits the middle meningeal artery.

Foramen Lacerum

Opening in the floor of the cranial cavity filled with cartilage in life where the internal carotid artery enters the cranial vault.

Jugular Foramen

Foramen connecting the posterior cranial fossa to the neck that transmits CN IX, CN X, CN XI, and the internal jugular vein.

Internal Acoustic Meatus

Foramen in the posterior cranial fossa transmitting CN VII, CN VIII, and labyrinthine artery and vein.

Stylomastoid Foramen

Foramen in the temporal bone where the facial nerve (CN VII) exits the cranial cavity after traveling through the facial canal.

Hypoglossal Canal

Foramen in the posterior cranial fossa transmitting the hypoglossal nerve (CN XII).

Foramen Magnum

Large foramen in the posterior cranial fossa transmitting the spinal cord, vertebral arteries, and roots of the accessory nerve (CN XI).

Carotid Canal

Passageway connecting the neck to the middle cranial fossa that transmits the internal carotid artery.

Mandibular Foramen

Foramen on the medial surface of the mandibular ramus transmitting the inferior alveolar nerve.

Mental Foramen

Foramen on the anterior-lateral body of the mandible transmitting the mental nerve.

Olfactory Nerve (CN I)

Sensory cranial nerve that transmits through the cribriform foramina in the cribriform plate.

Optic Nerve (CN II)

Sensory cranial nerve that transmits through the optic canal.

Oculomotor Nerve (CN III)

Motor cranial nerve that transmits through the superior orbital fissure.

Trochlear Nerve (CN IV)

Motor cranial nerve that transmits through the superior orbital fissure.

Trigeminal Nerve (CN V)

Cranial nerve with sensory and motor functions, divided into ophthalmic (V1, sensory), maxillary (V2, sensory), and mandibular (V3, both) branches.

Abducens Nerve (CN VI)

Motor cranial nerve that transmits through the superior orbital fissure.

Facial Nerve (CN VII)

Cranial nerve with sensory and motor functions that enters the internal acoustic meatus, passes through the facial canal, and exits at the stylomastoid foramen.

Vestibulocochlear Nerve (CN VIII)

Sensory cranial nerve that transmits through the internal acoustic meatus.

Glossopharyngeal Nerve (CN IX)

Cranial nerve with sensory and motor functions that transmits through the jugular foramen.

Vagus Nerve (CN X)

Cranial nerve with sensory and motor functions that transmits through the jugular foramen.

Accessory Nerve (CN XI)

Motor cranial nerve whose roots ascend from the upper spinal cord through the foramen magnum into the cranial cavity and leave via the jugular foramen.

Hypoglossal Nerve (CN XII)

Motor cranial nerve that transmits through the hypoglossal canal.