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CRANIUM refers to the bones of the head and face CALVARIA refers to the bones of the head SKULL refers to the bones of the head, face and mandible composed of a number of separate bones united at immobile joints called SUTURES

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FUNCTIONS OF THE SKULL

1. Surrounds and protects the brain and the brainstem 2. Houses organs of special sensation 3. Attachment for muscles of mastication and head movements

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PARIETAL BONE
- forms the sides and the

roof of the cranium and are jointed at the sagittal suture in the midline - the coronal suture articulates the frontal bone and the two parietal bones

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OCCIPITAL BONE
- forms the back of the cranium and joins with the parietal bones anteriorly at the lambdoid suture - inferiorly, the foramen magnum, through which the spinal cord passes could be located - at the level of the foramen magnum, the spinal cord joins with the medulla oblongata of the brain - occipital condyle for the articulation with the first cervical vertebra
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TEMPORAL BONE - paired bones helping to form the sides and base of the cranium - parts of the temporal bone: Squamous part largest and most superior of the four; thin, flat plate of bone forming the temple; present zygomatic process which forms the lateral part of the zygomatic arch Petrous part contains the inner ear within its cavities Mastoid part contains air spaces called mastoid cells or sinuses; separated from the brain only by thin bony partitions Tympanic part froms the floor and anterior wall of the external acoustic meatus Page 6

SPHENOID BONE - single, wedge-shaped bone having a central body and two expanded wings articulating with the temporal bones - anteriorly joined to the ethmoid and frontal bones and posteriorly to the occipital bone - superiorly, a marked depression could be found, the SELLA TURCIA, which houses the pituitary gland
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ETHMOID BONE - principal supporting structure of the nasal cavity and contributes to the formation of the orbits - it is the lightest of all the cranial bones, predominantly made up of cancellous tissue - cribriform (horizontal) plate of ethmoid forms the roof of the nasala cavity and unites the ethmoidal labyrinths - perpendicular plate of ethmoid forms the upper part of the nasal septum

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 AUDITORY OSSICLES - the three bones of each ear: the malleus, incus and stapes, are highly specialized in both structure and function WORMIAN BONES - located within the sutures; inconstant in number, small and irregular in shape
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THE FACIAL BONES NASAL BONE the two bones join to form the bridge of the nose PALATINE BONE the two bones form the posterior part of the roof of the mouth, hard palate LACRIMAL BONE the lateral surface of the bone presents a fossa which lodges the lacrimal sac and provides a groove for the passage of the nasolacrimal duct INFERIOR NASAL CONCHAE / TURBINATE BONE - similar to ethmoid conchae; thin and fragile bones consisting of cancellous bone
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MAXILLARY BONE - the two maxillae constitute the upper jaw - between ages 7-12 maxillary growth causes vertical elongation of the face - Parts of the maxillary bone: body forms part of the floor and outer wall of the nasal cavity, the greater part of the floor of the orbit and much of the anterior face below the temple zygomatic process participates in the formation of the cheek palatine process unites with palatine bone to form the anterior part of the hard palate alveolar process bears the teeth of the upper jaw - two maxillary bones are joined at the intermaxillary suture
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VOMER constitutes the lower portion of the nasal septum ZYGOMATIC BONE - two bones forming the prominence of the cheek - articulates with the temporal bone to form the zygomatic arch

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 MANDIBLE the strongest and the longest bone of the face - the body are the alveoli containing the teeth ; the ramus extends upward perpendicularly; the condyloid process to articulate with the mandibular fossa of the temporal bone; coronoid process for attachment of the temporalis muscle
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IMPORTANT LANDMARKS
1. Glabella location of the currogator muscle 2. Nasion midpoint of the fronto-nasal suture at the root of the nose 3. Vertex highest point of the skull in midline 4. Pterion marks the point of the anterior branch of the cerebral artery 5. Inion aka External occipital protuberance 6. Anterior fontanelle union at frontal and parietal bone; closes at 18 months of age 7. Posterior fontanelle union of parietal and occipital bone; closes within 1st year of life
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THE MANDIBLE

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To be continued.

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