Skull & Meninges

Vocabulary flashcards encompassing key terms and concepts related to the anatomy of the skull and meninges.

skull

bony structure that forms the head & protects the brain

• 2 parts = neurocranium (protects brain) + viscerocranium (forms face)

• supports the face & provides attachment points for muscles of chewing & facial expression

  • encloses & protects brain + meninges

  • houses organs of special senses for vision, hearing, tasting, & smelling

  • surrounds the openings into the digestive & respiratory tracts

neurocranium

part of the skull that encloses brain + meninges, proximal parts of cranial nerves, & blood vessels

• formed by cranial base + calvaria (cranial vault)

• composed largely of flat bones united by interlocking suture

  • bones = sphenoid, temporal, ethmoid, parietal, occipital & frontal

  • sutures = coronal, sagittal, lambdoid

Viscerocranium

The facial skeleton, which forms the front part of the skull.

Cranial Malformations

Abnormalities in the development of the skull.

Radiology

The use of imaging techniques to diagnose diseases of the skull.

Meninges

Protective layers surrounding the brain.

CSF (Cerebrospinal Fluid)

Fluid that circulates within the brain and spinal cord to protect and nourish them.

Dura Mater

The tough outer layer of the meninges.

Arachnoid Mater

The middle layer of the meninges, characterized by a web-like appearance.

Pia Mater

The delicate innermost layer of the meninges that adheres directly to the surface of the brain.

Epidural Space

The potential space between the dura mater and the inner surface of the skull.

Subdural Space

The space between the dura mater and the arachnoid mater, typically nonexistent.

Subarachnoid Space

The space between the arachnoid mater and the pia mater that contains CSF.

Hematoma

A localized collection of blood outside of blood vessels.

Cavernous Sinus

A paired sinus located on either side of the sella turcica, receiving venous blood from the brain.

Optic Canal

The opening that allows the optic nerve and ophthalmic artery to pass through.

Foramen Magnum

The large opening at the base of the skull through which the spinal cord passes.

Pituitary Gland

The small endocrine gland located in the hypophyseal fossa of the sphenoid bone.

Transsphenoidal Surgery

A surgical approach to the pituitary gland via the nasal cavity and sphenoid sinus.

Cranial Nerves

Nerves that emerge directly from the brain and brainstem.

Sutures

Fibrous joints between the bones of the skull.

Frontal Bone

Bone that forms the forehead and the roof of the orbit.

Parietal Bones

Paired bones that form the sides and roof of the cranium.

Temporal Bones

Bones that form the sides of the skull and house the ear structures.

Occipital Bone

The bone that forms the back and base of the skull.

Ethmoid Bone

A bone that forms part of the nasal septum and the roof of the nasal cavity.

Sphenoid Bone

A complex bone that forms part of the base of the skull and the eye socket.

Maxilla

The upper jawbone that holds the upper teeth.

Mandible

The lower jawbone, the only movable bone of the skull.

Zygomatic Bones

The cheekbones, contributing to the lateral wall of the orbit.

Palatine Bones

Bones that form the hard palate and part of the floor of the orbit.

Inferior Nasal Conchae

Independent bones on the lateral walls of the nasal cavity.

Lacrimal Bones

Small bones forming part of the eye socket.

Frontal Sinus

Air-filled cavity within the frontal bone.

Maxillary Sinus

The largest paranasal sinus located in the maxilla.

Sella Turcica

The depression in the sphenoid bone that houses the pituitary gland.

Choroid Plexus

A structure in the ventricles of the brain that produces CSF.

Cerebral Aqueduct

The duct connecting the third and fourth ventricles of the brain.

Hydrocephalus

A condition characterized by an accumulation of CSF in the ventricles.

Bregma

The point where the sagittal and coronal sutures intersect.

Lambda

The point where the sagittal and lambdoid sutures meet.

Pterion

The region where several cranial bones meet at the side of the skull.

Asterion

A craniometric point at the junction of the parietal, occipital, and temporal bones.

Scaphocephaly

Abnormal elongation of the skull due to premature closure of the sagittal suture.

Plagiocephaly

Asymmetrical skull shape due to premature closure of sutures on one side.

Oxycephaly

A condition where the skull is taller due to premature closure of the coronal suture.

Facial Skeleton

The structure of bones making up the face.

Sphenoid Sinus

A sinus located within the sphenoid bone.