Anatomy of the Skull: Anterior Aspect Summary
Superior and Lateral Cranial Bones
- Frontal bone: A shell-shaped bone that ends at the coronal suture; it features the super orbital foramen which allows passage for nerves and blood vessels.
- Sphenoid bone: Extends from the lateral surface into the optic cavity; it houses the optic canal and the sphenoid sinus.
- Parietal bone: A large bone covering the lateral surface of the skull.
- Temporal bone: Situated below the parietal bone, it houses specialized bony structures for the ear.
Facial and Jaw Bones
- Zygomatic bone: Commonly known as the cheekbone; it extends into the optic cavity and adjoins the greater wing of the sphenoid bone.
- Maxilla: Forms the upper jaw and parts of the optic cavity; it contains the infraorbital foramen for nerve and blood vessel passage.
- Mandible: The lower jawbone; it features the mental foramen, located in the mental or chin region.
- Nasal bone: Represents the bony top portion of the nose, distinct from the lower cartilage.
- Lacrimal bone: Positioned on the internal surface of the optic cavity and extends into the nasal cavity.
Intranasal and Orbital Structures
- Ethmoid bone: Includes structures within the optic cavity as well as the middle nasal concha and the perpendicular plate in the nasal cavity.
- Inferior nasal concha: Two specific structures located within the nasal cavity.
- Vomer: A bone mostly located on the interior, visible from the anterior aspect within the nasal cavity.