Skull Bones

Cranial Bones (8)

1. Frontal Bone

   • Forehead and eyebrow area

   • Forms the superior region of the eye orbit

2. Occipital Bone

   • Back of the head and floor of the cranium

   • Contains foramen magnum (spinal cord passage)

   • Occipital Condyle - two rounded protrusions on bottom of skull where it connects with spine

3. Ethmoid Bone

   • Located between the eyes, forms upper portion of nasal cavity.

   • Smallest cranial bone

   • Middle Nasal Concha - Inside the nasal cavity

4. Sphenoid Bone

   • Bat-shaped, behind the eyes

   • Connects cranial and facial bones

   • Contains the sella turcica, a saddle-shaped depression

5. Parietal Bones (2)

   • Forms the most superior portion of the skull

6. Temporal Bones (2)

   • Sides of the skull, near the ears

     Key Features:

   • Zygomatic process: Forms part of the cheekbone

   • External acoustic meatus: Ear canal

   • Mastoid process: Behind the ear

   • Styloid process: Sharp, for neck muscle attachment

Facial Bones (14)

All are paired except for mandible and vomer.

1. Maxillae (2)

   • The upper jaw, forms inferior section of the eye orbit

2. Zygomatics (2)

   • Cheekbones, connect to zygomatic process

3. Palatines (2)

   • Form the roof of the mouth (palate)

   • Palentine bone and palentine process

4. Nasals (2)

   • Form the bridge of the nose, connected at the center

5. Lacrimnals (2)

   • Small bumps in the corner of the eyes, near the nose

   • Contains lacrimal ducts where tears come out of

6. Inferior Nasal Concahe (2)

   • Located inside the nasal cavity

7. Mandible

   • Lower jaw, only movable bone in the skull

   • Features the mental foramen (hole in the chin)

8. Vomer

   • Forms part of the nasal septum, located inside the nose

Small Parts to Remember

• Zygomatic process (start of cheekbone)

• Exterior acoustic meatus (ear canal)

• Mastoid process (mass behind ear)

• Styloid process (sharp pointy areas)

• Middle nasal concha (small ethmoid bones in nasal cavity)

• Sella turcica (saddle-shaped depression, part of sphenoid

• Occipital condyle (2, oval-shaped, back of skull)

• Palatine process (bony structure of maxilla bone

• Palatine bone (between maxilla and sphenoid, behind process)

• Mental foramen (hole in mandible)

• Jugular foramen (holes on sides of occipital condyles near foramen magnum)

• Cribriform plate (where crista galli lays on)

• Crista galli (thin long structure on top of cribriform plate