Anatomy and Physiology: The Skull Bones

Overview

• The skull consists of 22 bones.
• Part of the axial skeleton.
• Divided into two main portions:
  • Cranial bones (8)
  • Facial bones (14)

Cranial Bones

• Eight cranial bones:

  • Mostly single bones except for two pairs.

• Paired Cranial Bones:

  • Parietal Bones:
    • Located on the sides, make up the side wall of the cranium.
    • Tip: "Parietal" sounds like "pair."
  • Temporal Bones:
    • Located inferior to the parietal bones.
    • Tip: Massaging these areas can relieve headaches.

• Single Cranial Bones:

  • Frontal Bone:
    • Located on the forehead, covers the frontal lobe.
    • Tip: Remember "Forehead" and "Frontal" both start with 'F'.
  • Sphenoid Bone:
    • Butterfly-shaped, articulates with all cranial bones.
    • Located across the cranium width.
    • Tip: Appears as a pair but is a single large bone.
  • Ethmoid Bone:
    • Located inferior to the frontal bone, between sphenoid and nasal bones.
    • Tip: Its cribriform plates resemble a strainer.
  • Occipital Bone:
    • Located at the back of the head, covers the occipital lobe.
    • Responsible for processing visual images.

• Mnemonic for Cranial Bones: Ethan's fried Spanish pasta tempted Octavia.

Facial Bones

• Fourteen facial bones:

  • Mostly paired bones except for two single bones.

• Single Facial Bones:

  • Mandible:
    • Jawbone, strongest bone in the face.
    • Tip: "Manly mandible" refers to a chiseled jawline.
  • Vomer:
    • Forms the inferior part of the nasal septum.
    • Tip: Name originates from a word meaning "plowshare."

• Paired Facial Bones:

  • Nasal Bones:
    • Form the bridge of the nose.
  • Inferior Nasal Concha:
    • Shell-shaped bones in the lower nose area.
  • Lacrimal Bones:
    • Located near the tear ducts, associated with tears.
  • Palatine Bones:
    • Make up the posterior part of the hard palate.
  • Zygomatic Bones:
    • Known as the cheekbones.
  • Maxillary Bones:
    • Form the maximum area of the face, articulate with most facial bones.

• Mnemonic for Facial Bones: My mouth's palate, but never like zucchini in vinegar.

Associated Bones

• Not technically skull bones but located nearby:
  • Hyoid Bone:
    • U-shaped, helps with tongue attachment and swallowing.
  • Auditory Ossicles (Ear Bones):
    • Malleus (hammer), Incus (anvil), Stapes (stirrup).

Additional Resources

• Check out the free quiz on the website to test your knowledge.
• More anatomy videos available for further study.

Conclusion

• Understanding skull bones is essential in anatomy.
• The organization of cranial and facial bones helps in identification and learning.