Osteology of the Skull and Cervical Vertebrae

Oral Biology

Alex Forrest
Associate Professor of Forensic Odontology Forensic Science Research & Innovation Centre, Griffith University Consultant Forensic Odontologist, Queensland Health Forensic and Scientific Services, 39 Kessels Rd, Coopers Plains, Queensland, Australia 4108

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Learning Objective

You should be able to apply the principles underlying correlation of form and function in the head and neck to gain a basic comprehension of the structure of the human skull and cervical vertebrae, and to begin to relate this to the surface features of the head and neck.

Skull

The Skull

The skull, which comprises the mandible and the cranium, is the most highly modified region of the human skeleton. It is adapted to support and contain the brain and special senses, and to secure and process food.

The Skull

It is specialized so that the mouth and special senses are positioned at the head end of the body. It offers protection to the brain not only from forces external to the body, but also from those generated from within the body, such as by the muscles of mastication.

The Skull

The upper part of the cranium forms a box which encloses and protects the brain. This is termed the calvaria. Note that the term calvaria is not a plural term.
Modified from Grays Anatomy, Longman, London, 35th Edition, 1973. p 257

The Skull

The remainder of the skull forms the facial skeleton. The upper part of the facial skeleton is firmly fixed to the calvaria and is not movable, but the lower part is the moveable mandible.

Modified from Grays Anatomy, Longman, London, 35th Edition, 1973. p 257

The Skull

The joints between the bones of the cranium are an immovable type of fibrous joint called a suture. This kind of fibrous joint permits the growth of the calvaria and face. It is not found in any other area of the skeleton.

The Skull

With increasing age, many of the sutures, especially in the calvaria, ossify from the inside outwards and may disappear altogether. The relationship between the amount of ossification and age appears to be too inconstant to allow it to be used for the definitive assessment of the age at death of an individual.

The Skull

Some of the bones of the skull are paired, and some are single. Well check out the single bones, then look at the paired ones.

Single Bones

Frontal Bone

Modified from Grays Anatomy, Longman, London, 35th Edition, 1973. p 261

Where is it?

Frontal Bone

Remains of Metopic Suture Superciliary Ridges & Glabella Supraorbital Margins Supraorbital Foramina/Notches Zygomatic Process Part of Superior & Inferior Temporal Lines Nasal Spine

From Grays Anatomy, Longman, London, 35th Edition, 1973. p 298

Frontal Bone

Orbital Plate Supraorbital notch Ethmoidal Notch Frontal Crest Zygomatic Process Nasal Spine

From Grays Anatomy, Longman, London, 35th Edition, 1973. p 299

Occipital Bone

Where is it?

Modified from Grays Anatomy, Longman, London, 35th Edition, 1973. p 257

Occipital Bone

Squamous Part External Occipital Protuberance Nuchal Lines F. Magnum Condylar Canal Hypoglossal Canal Condyle

From Grays Anatomy, Longman, London, 35th Edition, 1973. p 285

Occipital Bone

Pharyngeal Tubercle Condyle Condylar Canal External Occipital Crest Jugular Process

From Grays Anatomy, Longman, London, 35th Edition, 1973. p 286

Occipital Bone

Sulcus for Superior Sagittal Sinus Groove for Transverse Sinus Internal Occipital Protuberance Basilar Part

From Grays Anatomy, Longman, London, 35th Edition, 1973. p 287

Ethmoid Bone

Modified from Grays Anatomy, Longman, London, 35th Edition, 1973. p 261

Where is it?

Ethmoid Bone

Crista Galli

Perpendicular Plate Ethmoid Air Cells or Sinus (Labyrinth) Superior Concha

Middle Concha

Orbital Plate

From Grays Anatomy, Longman, London, 35th Edition, 1973. p 300

Posterior View

Ethmoid Bone

Crista Galli

Perpendicular Plate

Ethmoid Air Cells or Sinus (Labyrinth)

Cribriform Plate

From Grays Anatomy, Longman, London, 35th Edition, 1973. p 300

Superior View

Ethmoid Bone

Crista Galli Orbital Plate Ethmoid Air Cells Perpendicular Plate Middle Concha

From Grays Anatomy, Longman, London, 35th Edition, 1973. p 300

Lateral View

Ethmoid Bone

From Grays Anatomy, Longman, London, 35th Edition, 1973. p 300

The Nasal Septum and its Articulations

Sphenoid Bone

Modified from Grays Anatomy, Longman, London, 35th Edition, 1973. p 261

Where is it?

Sphenoid Bone

Greater Wing Lesser Wing Superior Orbital Fissure Foramen Rotundum Body Dorsum Sellae Ant. Clinoid Process Post. Clinoid Process

From Grays Anatomy, Longman, London, 35th Edition, 1973. p 288

Posterior View

Sphenoid Bone

Lateral Pterygoid Plate Medial Pterygoid Plate Pterygoid Hamulus Scaphoid Fossa Vaginal Process Spine of the Sphenoid

From Grays Anatomy, Longman, London, 35th Edition, 1973. p 288

Posterior View

Sphenoid Bone

Greater Wing Lesser Wing Optic Canal Sella Turcica Hypophyseal Fossa Foramen Ovale Foramen Spinosum Emissary Sphenoidal Foramen

From Grays Anatomy, Longman, London, 35th Edition, 1973. p 288

Superior View

Sphenoid Bone

Tuberculum Sellae Ant. Clinoid Process Post. Clinoid Process Dorsum Sellae Sup. Orbital Fissure Spine of Sphenoid Carotid Sulcus

From Grays Anatomy, Longman, London, 35th Edition, 1973. p 288

Superior View

Sphenoid Bone

Sup. Orbital Fissure Foramen Rotundum Pterygoid Canal Orbital Surface Temporal Surface Infratemporal Surface Posterior Surface of Pterygopalatine Fossa From Grays Anatomy, Longman, London, 35th Edition, 1973. p 288

Anterior View
From Grays Anatomy, Longman, London, 35th Edition, 1973. p 288

Paired Bones

Parietal Bones

Where are they?

Modified from Grays Anatomy, Longman, London, 35th Edition, 1973. p 257

Parietal Bones

Superior Temporal Line

Inferior Temporal Line Sometimes, Parietal Foramen

From Grays Anatomy, Longman, London, 35th Edition, 1973. p 296

External View

Temporal Bones

Where are they?

Modified from Grays Anatomy, Longman, London, 35th Edition, 1973. p 257

Temporal Bones

The temporal bones comprise four parts:

1. Squamous Part 2. Mastoid Part 3. Petrous Part 4. Styloid Process

Temporal Bones

Squamous Part

Mastoid part

Styloid Process

Tympanic Plate

External Auditory Meatus

Zygomatic Process

Mastoid Process

From Grays Anatomy, Longman, London, 35th Edition, 1973. p 291

External View

Temporal Bones

Glenoid Fossa

Articular Eminence

Tympanic Plate

Postglenoid Tubercle Position of Squamotympanic Fissure Suprameatal Triangle

Sheath of Styloid Process

From Grays Anatomy, Longman, London, 35th Edition, 1973. p 291

External View

Temporal Bones

Glenoid Fossa Squamotympanic Fissure Petrotympanic Fissure Petrosquamous Fissure Tegmen Tympani Opening of Anterior Canaliculus for Chorda Tympani

From Grays Anatomy, Longman, London, 35th Edition, 1973. p 291

Inferior View

Temporal Bones

Zygomatic Process Mastoid Process Digastric Notch Groove for Occipital Artery Articular Eminence Styloid Process Stylomastoid Foramen Carotid Canal

From Grays Anatomy, Longman, London, 35th Edition, 1973. p 291

Inferior View

Temporal Bones

Petrous Part Internal Auditory Meatus Sulcus for Sigmoid Sinus Arcuate Eminence Tegmen Tympani

From Grays Anatomy, Longman, London, 35th Edition, 1973. p 292

Internal View

Maxillae

Modified from Grays Anatomy, Longman, London, 35th Edition, 1973. p 261

Where are they?

Maxillae

Frontal Process Zygomatic Process Alveolar Process Nasal Notch Anterior Nasal Spine Infraorbital Foramen Maxillary Tuberosity Canine Eminence Incisive Fossa Posterior Superior Dental Canals

From Grays Anatomy, Longman, London, 35th Edition, 1973. p 304

Lateral View

Maxillae

Frontal Sinus Maxillary Sinus Nasolacrimal Groove Alveolar Process Nasal Notch Anterior Nasal Spine Maxillary Tuberosity Articulations with other Bones

From Grays Anatomy, Longman, London, 35th Edition, 1973. p 305

Lateral Cutaway View

Maxillae

Nasolacrimal Groove Maxillary Hiatus Alveolar Process Palatine Process Greater Palatine Canal Incisive Canal Maxillary Tuberosity

From Grays Anatomy, Longman, London, 35th Edition, 1973. p 305

Medial View

Zygomatic Bones

Modified from Grays Anatomy, Longman, London, 35th Edition, 1973. p 261

Where are they?

Zygomatic Bones

Frontal Process Maxillary Process Temporal Process Zygomaticofacial Foramen Malar Process

From Grays Anatomy, Longman, London, 35th Edition, 1973. p 309

Lateral View in Situ

Palatine Bones

Perpendicular Plate Pyramidal Process Horizontal Plate Orbital Process Sphenoidal Process Palatomaxillary Suture

From Grays Anatomy, Longman, London, 35th Edition, 1973. p 307

Medial View in Situ

Lacrimal Bones

Modified from Grays Anatomy, Longman, London, 35th Edition, 1973. p 261

Where are they?

Lacrimal Bones

Orbital Surface Lacrimal Groove

From Grays Anatomy, Longman, London, 35th Edition, 1973. p 302

Orbital View (Lateral)

Mandible

Where is it?

Modified from Grays Anatomy, Longman, London, 35th Edition, 1973. p 257

Mandible

Condylar Process Condyle Coronoid Process Angle Body Ramus

From Grays Anatomy, Longman, London, 35th Edition, 1973. p 281

External View

Mandible

Mandibular Notch External Oblique Ridge Mental Foramen Incisive Fossa Mental Protuberance Mental Tubercle

From Grays Anatomy, Longman, London, 35th Edition, 1973. p 281

External View

Mandible

Lingula Mandibular Foramen Mylohyoid Ridge Submandibular Fossa Sublingual Fossa Genial Tubercles Digastric Fossa

From Grays Anatomy, Longman, London, 35th Edition, 1973. p 281

Internal View

The Palate

Palatine Processes of Maxilla Horizontal Plates of Palatine Bone Intermaxillary Suture Palatomaxillary Suture Incisive Fossa Incisive Canal Greater Palatine Foramen Lesser Palatine Foramina

From Grays Anatomy, Longman, London, 35th Edition, 1973. p 270

Inferior View

Hyoid Bone

The hyoid bone is not attached directly to the rest of the skeleton. It is suspended from the styloid processes by the stylohyoid ligaments. Superiorly, the digastric and geniohyoid muscles attach to it, as well as middle constrictor and hyoglossus. Anteriorly, mylohyoid and stylohyoid attach. Anteroinferiorly, the sternohyoid muscle helps depress the hyoid bone.

Hyoid Bone

Body Lesser Cornu Greater Cornu

From Grays Anatomy, Longman, London, 35th Edition, 1973. p 285

Anterosuperior View

Vertebral Column

Vertebral Column

The vertebral column is formed of 33 vertebrae, classified as follows:

7 cervical 12 thoracic 5 lumbar 5 sacral 4 coccygeal

Vertebrae

Vertebrae possess common features throughout the vertebral column. These include the following:
body neural or vertebral arch transverse processes articular processes pedicles laminae spinous processes

Cervical Vertebrae

Body Neural or Vertebral Arch Transverse Process Anterior Tubercle Posterior Tubercle Articular Process Articular Facet Pedicle Lamina Spinous Process Transverse Foramen From Grays Anatomy, Longman, London, 35th Edition, 1973. p 234

Superior View Typical Cervical Vertebra

Cervical Vertebrae

Body Anterior Tubercle Posterior Tubercle Superior Vertebral Notch Sulcus for Ventral Ramus of Spinal Nerve Spinous Process From Grays Anatomy, Longman, London, 35th Edition, 1973. p 234

Lateral View Typical Cervical Vertebra

Cervical Vertebrae

Spinal nerves emerge from the intervertebral foramina formed by the superior and inferior vertebral notches of adjacent vertebrae, on either side of which are the anterior and posterior tubercle. Vertebrae are held together by strong ligaments.

From Grays Anatomy, Longman, London, 35th Edition, 1973. p 237

Anterior View

Cervical Vertebrae

Cervical vertebrae 3-6 follow the plan of a typical cervical vertebra, but vertebrae 1, 2 and 7 are varied from this scheme, so they are discussed individually.

1st Cervical Vertebra

From Grays Anatomy, Longman, London, 35th Edition, 1973. p 235

Atlas Vertebra Superior View

2nd Cervical Vertebra

From Grays Anatomy, Longman, London, 35th Edition, 1973. p 236

Axis Vertebra Superior View

2nd Cervical Vertebra

From Grays Anatomy, Longman, London, 35th Edition, 1973. p 236

Axis Vertebra Lateral View

7th Cervical Vertebra

From Grays Anatomy, Longman, London, 35th Edition, 1973. p 236

7th Cervical Vertebra Superior View

How do the bones relate to the overlying soft tissues? Why do the vertebrae have the forms they have? Think about it and query every aspect of the design. Ask yourself constantly, Why is it like this and not different?

The End