Cranium

Frontal bone

Ethmoid bone

Sphenoid bone (greater wing)

Sphenoid bone (lesser wing)

Occipital bone

Temporal bone

Parietal Bone

Mandible

Vomer

Maxilla

Inferior nasal conchae

Zygomatic bone

Palatine bone

Nasal bone

Lacrimal bones

Nasion

Supraorbital margin

Superciliary arch

Glabella

zygomaticofacial foramen

*zygomaticofacial nerve and artery go through here

Superior orbital fissure

-oculomotor (CN III)

-trochlear (CN IV),

-ophthalmic branch of trigeminal (CN V1)

-abducens (CN VI)

Inferior orbital fissure

-infraorbital branch of maxillary portion of

trigeminal nerve (CN V2)

-zygomatic branch of maxillary portion of

trigeminal nerve (CN V2)

Optic canal

Optic nerve (CN II)

Ophthalmic artery

Superior orbital fissure lies between the

lesser and greater wings

Alveolar processes

Infraorbital foramen

*Infraorbital nerve artery and vein go through here

palatine process

inferior nasal conchae

nasal septum

superior nasal conchae

middle nasal conchae

temporal fossa

*contains structures essential to hearing, balance,

mastication

temporomandibular joint (TMJ)

squamous part of temporal bone

*Forms the lateral cranial wall above the ear

Tympanic part of temporal bone

*helps form the inferior part of the external

acoustic meatus

Mastoid part of temporal bone

*Mastoid process - attachment site for SCM

Petrous Part of temporal bone

*houses the middle and inner ear

Styloid Process of temporal bone

*Attachment site for styloglossus, stylohyoid, and

stylohyoid ligament

External acoustic meatus

*entrance to ear canal

Internal acoustic meatus (temporal bone)

*transmits facial nerve (CN VII) enters temporal bone here and exits stylomastoid foramen

& vestibulocochlear (CN VIII)

Stylomastoid foramen

*exit of facial nerve (CN VII)

Carotid canal

*passage of the internal carotid artery

Jugular foramen

*passage for glossopharyngeal (CN IX), vagus (CN X), spinal accessory (CN XI) nerves and internal jugular vein

sphenoid bone parts

sella turcica (sphenoid bone)

tuberculum sellae

Hypophyseal fossa

(holds the pituitary gland)

Dorsum sellae

Foramen rotundum

trigeminal (maxillary V2)

Foramen ovale

trigeminal (mandibular V3)

Foramen spinosum

(middle meningeal artery)

Pterygoid process

Medial pterygoid plate

Lateral pterygoid plate

Pterygoid fossa

External acoustic opening

*entrance to the external acoustic meatus (ear canal)

External occipital protuberance

Superior and inferior nuchal lines

*Sup nuchal line, marking the superior limit of the neck, extends laterally from each side of this protuberance

*Inf nuchal line is less distinct than superior nuchal line

Foramen magnum (occipital bone)

*passage for medulla, vertebral arteries,

spinal roots of CN XI, meninges.

Hypoglossal canal (occipital bone)

*passage for hypoglossal nerve (CN XII)

jugular foramen

occipital condyles

*articulate with C1

lambda

*junction of the sagittal and lambdoid sutures

superior most point of the cranium, near midpoint of sagittal suture

superior most point of the cranium, near midpoint of sagittal suture

bregma

*region where sagittal suture intersects the coronal suture

What region of the cranium is the anterior fontanelle in?

Bregma

anterior fontanelle

-The "soft spot" in infants (anterior fontanelle)

-Membranous, diamond shaped gap between frontal and parietal bones

-Allows for rapid brain growth and cranial deformity during vaginal births

-Closes around 12 - 18 months of age

greater palatine foramina

*Branches of trigeminal (CN V2 - maxillary nerve) & Vessels for palatine region

lesser palatine foramina

*Branches of trigeminal (CN V2 - maxillary nerve) & Vessels for palatine region

Anterior fossa

*cribriform foramen in cribriform plate (olfactory nerve

CN I) - ethmoid bone

*Fossa for inferior portion of frontal lobes

Middle fossa

1. Formed by sphenoid and temporal bones

2. Fossa for inferior portion of temporal lobes

Middle fossa contents

-Optic canal

-Foramen rotundum

sphenoid bone

-Foramen ovale

-Foramen spinosum

-Foramen lacerum

Posterior fossa

1. Formed by temporal and occipital bones

2. Fossa for cerebellar region

Posterior fossa contents

-Internal acoustic (auditory) meatus

-Jugular foramen

-Hypoglossal canal

-Foramen magnum

Cribriform plate

*Contains numerous foramina for olfactory nerve (CN I) fibers

as they pass from the nasal mucosa to the olfactory bulb.

Crista galli

*attachment for the falx cerebri (dural fold that separates

the cerebral hemispheres)

perpendicular plate of ethmoid bone

Ethmoidal labyrinths (lateral masses)

Ethmoid air cells

part of ethmoidal labyrinths

small, interconnected air-filled sinuses

Orbital plate of ethmoid bone

part of ethmoidal labyrinths

forms majority of the medial orbital wall

Orbital plate of frontal bone

foramen lacerum

*Filled with fibrocartilage

*Internal carotid passes over but does not go through it

Coronal suture

joins frontal to left and right parietal bone

sagittal suture

joins left and right parietal bones

Lambdoid suture

joins the left and right parietal bones to occipital bone

Squamosal suture

joins parietal and temporal bones

pterion

region where parietal, frontal, temporal, and sphenoid bones (middle meningeal artery is close to this area so blows in this region can tear the artery causing an epidural hematoma)