Bones of the Skull: Facial Bones

Facial Bones

These bones do not directly border the brain but form the structure of the face.

Maxilla

  • Comprises two bones, one on each side of the face, forming the anterior part of the cheeks.
  • Alveolar process: The attachment point for the gums and teeth. This refers to the entire structure anchoring the teeth, not just a specific point.
  • Palatine process: Forms the anterior portion of the hard palate, which is the roof of the mouth. This specific marking of the maxilla contributes to the front of the hard palate.
  • Contains a sinus.
  • Cleft palate: A developmental condition where the two maxilla bones fail to merge properly during formation.
    • Severity: Can range from minor to very severe, potentially involving missing teeth, significant gaps under the nose, a deep split in the roof of the mouth (which can extend as far back as the palatine bone and sometimes involve the tongue).
    • Implications: Can cause difficulties with eating and speaking.
    • Treatment: Generally treatable with plastic surgery, especially if performed early in life to minimize long-term complications.
    • Global Access: The higher prevalence of severe complications in some developing countries is primarily due to a lack of access to medical care and early intervention, not a higher incidence of the condition itself. Early treatment can lead to minimal scarring and often no discernible issues.

Palatine Bone

  • Another facial bone located posterior to the maxilla.
  • Horizontal plate: A specific marking on the palatine bone that makes up the posterior portion of the hard palate.
  • Distinction: It's important to differentiate between the palatine bone (a distinct bone) and the palatine process (a marking on the maxilla bone).

Nasal Bones

  • Consist of two small bones that form the bridge of the nose.
  • Lack specific markings.

Vomer

  • An internal bone that is not visible externally.
  • Forms the inferior part of the nasal septum.
  • Joins with the perpendicular plate of the ethmoid bone and cartilage to form the complete nasal septum.
  • Nasal Septum Composition: The nasal septum is composed of three parts: the ethmoid's perpendicular plate, the vomer, and cartilage.
  • Deviated Septum: A condition where the nasal septum is crooked or offset to one side.
    • Symptoms: May cause difficulty breathing through one side of the nose or lead to chronic sinus infections.
    • Treatment: Surgical correction (plastic surgery) involving breaking and reshaping the septum is considered if the deviation causes significant symptoms or functional impairment.

Inferior Nasal Conchae

  • These are distinct bones, unlike the superior and middle nasal conchae, which are markings on the ethmoid bone.
  • Identification Note: Superior nasal conchae are generally not visible in an intact skull. When viewing the nasal cavity, the higher and deeper conchae are the middle conchae, and the lower ones are the inferior nasal conchae. Avoid mislabeling the physically highest visible conchae as