Facial Bones Exam Questions

How many facial bones are there?

14

What are the facial bones?

1. Maxillae (2)

2. Zygomatic (2)

3. Lacrimal (2)

4. Nasal bones (2)

5. Inferior nasal conchae (2)

6. Palatine (2)

7. Vomer (1)

8. Mandible (1)

What are the largest immovable bones of the face?

Maxillary bones

Each maxilla assists in the formation of what three cavities of the face?

1. Mouth

2. Nasal cavity

3. One orbit

What part of the maxilla is centrally located and lies lateral to the nose?

Body

What are the three processes that make up the maxilla?

1. Frontal process

2. Zygomatic process

3. Alveolar process

Where is the frontal portion of the maxilla?

Projects upward along the lateral boarder of the nose toward the frontal bone

Where is the zygomatic process of the maxilla?

Projects laterally to unite with the zygoma

Alveolar process of the maxilla

Inferior aspect of the body

What do the two palatine processes form?

Anterior portion of the roof of the mouth

What is the palatine process also called?

Hard or bony palate

What is cleft palate?

An opening between the palatine processes that is caused by incomplete joining of the two bones

What does each maxilla articulate with?

Two cranial bones and seven facial bones

Where is the zygoma located?

Lateral to the zygomatic process of each maxilla

What do the zygoma form?

The prominence of the checks and make up the lower outer portion of the orbits

Where is the zygomatic arch?

Projects posteriorly from the zygoma

Zygomatic arch

Slender process that connects with the zygomatic process of the temporal bone

What creates the zygomatic arch?

The zygomatic bone and zygomatic process (of temporal bone)

Zygomatic prominence

Positioning landmark, the prominent portion off the zygoma

What are the thinnest and most fragile bones in the entire body?

Lacrimal and nasal bones

Lacrimal bones

About the size and shape of a fingernail, lie anteriorly on the medial side of each orbit

What bone is closely associated with the tear ducts?

Lacrimal bones

What forms the bridge of the nose and vary in size?

Two fused nasal bones

Where are the nasal bones?

Lie anterior and superomedial to the frontal process of the maxillae and inferior to the frontal bone

What is the point junction of the two nasal bones with the frontal bone called? (surface landmark)

Nasion

What does the nasal bone articulate with?

Two cranial bones and two facial bones

Inferior nasal conchae

Platelike, curved facial bones that project from the lateral walls of the nasal cavity on each side and extend medially

How many pairs of nasal conchae are there?

3

What bone are the superior and middle nasal conchae apart of?

Ethmoid

What is the purpose of the three pairs of nasal conchae?

To divide the nasal cavities into various compartments

What do the various compartments of the nasal conchae do?

Break up or mix the flow of air coming into the nasal cavities before it reaches the lungs. The air is warmed and cleaned

How is each palatine bone shaped?

Roughly “L” shaped

Where is the vertical portion of the palatine bones?

Extends upward between one maxilla and one pterygoid palate of the sphenoid bone

Where is the horizontal portion of the palatine bones?

Helps make up the posterior portion of the hard palate

What forms the bony nasal septum?

Ethmoid and vomer

Vomer

Thin, triangular bone that forms part of the nasal septum

What are the surfaces of the vomer marked with?

Small, furrow-like depressions for blood vessels, a source of nose bleeds

Deviated nasal septum

When the nasal septum is deflected or displaced laterally from the midline of the nose

Where do nosebleeds come from and what is it called?

The vomer, called epistaxis

What is the largest facial bone?

Mandible

What is the only moveable bone in the adult skull?

Mandible

At what age do the two bones of the mandible form to 1 bone?

Approximately 1 year of age

What does the angle (gonion) do?

Divides the mandible into two main parts

Where is the body of the mandible?

Anterior to the angle of the mandible

Where is the ramus?

Superior to each angle of the mandible

Where is the alveolar process?

Extends along the entire superior portion of the body of the mandible

Symphysis or symphysis menti of the mandible

Midline fusion of the two halves of the mandible, located anteriorly at the mental protuberance

Mental protuberance

Area below the symphysis, marked by two knoblike protuberances that project forward

Mental point

Center of the mental protuberance

Mental foramen

Passageways for the mental artery and vein and mental nerve

Mandibular notch

Upper portion of each ramus, U-shaped notch

Coronoid process

Anterior end of the mandibular notch

Condyloid process

Posterior process of the upper ramus that consists of 2 parts

Condyle or head of the condyloid process

Rounded end of the condyloid process

Neck of the condyloid process

Constricted area directly below the condyle

What forms the TMJ?

Tempomandibular fossa of temporal bone and condylar process of mandible

How is each orbit shaped?

Cone shaped

Base of orbit

Rim of the orbit which corresponds to the outer circular portion of the cone

Apex of orbit

Posterior portion of the cone

Optic foramen

Opening in the orbit for optic nerve

What are the three openings in the posterior portion of each orbit?

1. Optic foramen

2. Superior orbital fissure

3. Inferior orbital fissure

What is the purpose of the openings in the orbits?

Provide for passage of specific cranial nerves

Optic foramen

Small hole in the sphenoid bone that is located posteriorly at the apex

Superior orbital fissure

Opening between the greater and lesser wings, located lateral to the optic foramen

Inferior orbital fissure

Located between the maxilla, zygomatic bone, and greater wing

Sphenoid strut

Small root of bone that separates the superior orbital fissure from the optic canal

Tripod fracture

Caused by a blow to the cheek, resulting in fracture of the zygoma in three places

Le Fort fractures

Severse bilateral horizontal fractures of the maxillae

Contrecoup fracture

Fracture to one side of a structure that is caused by an impact on the opposite side

Where are the petrous ridges in a good waters view?

Below the maxillary sinuses

Where are the petrous ridges for a Caldwell method projection?

Lower 1/3 of the orbits

Where are the petrous ridges in the modified waters method?

Lower ½ of maxillary sinuses

Where should the optic foramen be for the Rhese method?

In the lower outer quadrant of the orbit

What joint does the modified law method demonstrate?

Downside

What joint does the schuller method demonstrate?

Downside