Cranium and Vertebral Column Flashcards (Vocabulary)

Flashcards covering key skull (cranium) features and a vertebral column/ thoracic cage concept from the notes.

ethmoid bone

A light, spongy skull bone forming part of the medial orbital wall and the roof of the nasal cavity; contains the cribriform plate.

cribriform plate

Horizontal plate of the ethmoid bone with numerous foramina for olfactory nerve fibers.

crista galli

Vertical superior projection of the ethmoid bone; attachment point for the falx cerebri.

perpendicular plate

Vertical plate forming part of the nasal septum; part of the ethmoid bone.

vomER bone

Unpaired bone forming the inferior portion of the nasal septum.

nasal septum

Wall that divides the nasal cavity into right and left sides; formed by the perpendicular plate, vomer, and cartilage.

zygomatic bones

Cheekbones; form the prominence of the cheeks and contribute to the lateral orbital rim.

temporal bones

Paired bones on the sides of the skull containing structures of the ear and mandible articulation sites.

internal acoustic (auditory) meatus

Opening in the temporal bone for nerves VII and VIII and inner ear structures.

external acoustic (auditory) meatus

Canal leading from the external ear to the tympanic membrane.

mastoid process

Bony projection of the temporal bone with air cells; attachment for neck muscles.

styloid process

Slender projection of the temporal bone serving as an attachment for ligaments and muscles.

mandibular fossa

Depression on the temporal bone that articulates with the mandible to form the TMJ.

carotid canal

Passage in the temporal bone for the internal carotid artery.

jugular foramen

Large opening at the skull base formed by the occipital and temporal bones; transmits the internal jugular vein and cranial nerves IX, X, and XI.

sphenoid bone

Bat-shaped bone at the skull base that forms part of the orbits and houses the sella turcica.

superior orbital fissure

Gap between the sphenoid and orbital bones transmitting CN III, IV, V1, VI, and superior ophthalmic vein.

inferior orbital fissure

Gap between the maxilla and sphenoid/ orbital floor transmitting infraorbital vessels and nerves.

optic canal

Passage in the sphenoid bone for the optic nerve (CN II) and ophthalmic artery.

foramen rotundum

Foramen in the sphenoid bone transmitting the maxillary nerve (CN V2).

foramen ovale

Foramen in the sphenoid bone transmitting the mandibular nerve (CN V3) and small vessels.

foramen spinosum

Foramen in the sphenoid bone transmitting the middle meningeal vessels and meningeal branch of CN V3.

sella turcica

saddle-shaped depression in the sphenoid bone that houses the pituitary gland.

intervertebral disc

Cartilaginous joints between adjacent vertebral bodies; composed of nucleus pulposus and annulus fibrosus, providing cushioning and flexibility.