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Understanding Skull Anatomy and Bones

Oct 1, 2024

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.