Skull Structures

Frontal (cranial) Forms the forehead and upper eye sockets.
Glabella (cranial) Smooth area between the eyebrows.
Supraorbital Foramen (cranial) Hole above the eye socket for nerves and vessels.
Parietal bone (Cranial) Sides and roof of the skull.
Occipital bone (Cranial) Back and base of the skull.
Foramen magnum (Cranial) Large hole for the spinal cord to pass through.
Occipital condyles (Cranial) Rounded knobs that connect the skull to the spine.
External occipital protuberance (Cranial) Bump on the back of the skull for muscle attachment.
External occipital crest (Cranial) Ridge extending downward from the external occipital protuberance.
Superior nuchal lines (Cranial) Horizontal ridges for neck muscle attachment.
Inferior nuchal lines (Cranial) Lower ridges for neck muscle attachment.
Temporal bone Sides of the skull, around the ear.Sides of the skull, around the ear.
Zygomatic process Projection of the temporal bone forming part of the cheekbone.
Mandibular fossa Depression where the lower jaw connects to the skull.
External auditory meatus (Cranial) Ear canal opening.
Styloid process (Cranial) Pointed projection below the ear for muscle attachment.
Mastoid process (Cranial) Rounded bone behind the ear for muscle attachment.
Sphenoid bone(Cranial) Butterfly-shaped bone at the skull base.
Stella Turcica (Cranial) Saddle-shaped depression in the sphenoid that holds the pituitary gland.
Ethmoid bone (Cranial) Light, spongy bone between the eyes forming part of the nasal cavity.
Sutural (Wormian) bones Extra small bones within skull sutures.
Anterior cranial fossa (Cranial) Front skull base holding the frontal lobes.
Middle cranial fossa (Cranial) Central skull base holding the temporal lobes.
Posterior cranial fossa (Cranial) Back skull base holding the cerebellum.
Sagittal (sutures) Joints between skull bones.
Lambdoidal (sutures) Between parietal and occipital bones.
Occipitomastoid (sutures) Between occipital and temporal bones.
Coronal (sutures) Between frontal and parietal bones.
Squamous (sutures) : Between temporal and parietal bones.
Mandible Lower jaw bone.
Coronoid process Thin projection on the mandible for muscle attachment.
Mandibular condyle Rounded part of mandible that connects to the skull.
Mental foramina Openings on the mandible for nerves and vessels.
Maxilla Upper jaw and part of the nose and eye sockets.
Alveolar margins Ridges on maxilla and mandible holding the teeth.
Zygomatic Cheekbones
Palatine Bones forming the back of the nasal cavity and roof of the mouth.
Nasal Bones forming the bridge of the nose.
Lacrimal Small bones in the inner eye socket.
Vomer Bone forming the lower part of the nasal septum.
Nasal conchae Curved bones inside the nasal cavity that help filter air.
Infraorbital foramen Hole below the eye socket for nerves and vessels.