EasyMed Channel: Facial Bones Overview

Introduction

• The skull consists of 22 bones: 8 cranial bones and 14 facial bones.
• This lecture focuses on the 14 facial bones.
• Mnemonic to remember these bones: "My Mandible Chews Nine Very Large Zucchini Pizzas"
  • Maxilla, Mandible, Concha, Nasal, Vomer, Lacrimal, Zygomatic, Palatine

Facial Bones Details

1. Maxilla

• Paired bones, shown in purple.
• Functions: Forms front of the face, nasal passageway, hard palate, and part of orbits.
• Features:
  • Infraorbital Foramen: Passage for infraorbital artery, vein, nerve; site for nerve blocks.
  • Incisive Foramen: Located behind incisors; passage for sphenopalatine artery, nasopalatine nerves.
  • Maxillary Sinuses: Located within maxillary bones.

2. Mandible

• Shown in turquoise green; forms the jaw.
• Features:
  • Mental Foramen: Passage for branches of inferior alveolar nerve/vessels; site for nerve block.
  • Coronoid Process: Anterior projection for temporal muscle attachment.
  • Condylar Process: Articulates with temporal bone; allows jaw movement.
  • Mandibular Foramen: Passage for inferior alveolar nerve/vessels; site for nerve block.

3. Inferior Nasal Conchae

• Shown in maroon; located within the nose.
• Separate from the superior and middle conchae, which are part of the ethmoid bone.

4. Nasal Bones

• Shown in beige; located at the bridge of the nose.
• Primarily cartilage except for the nasal bones.

5. Vomer

• Unpaired bone shown in the middle of the nose.
• Functions: Forms inferior portion of nasal septum.
• Articulations: Maxillary, palatine, ethmoid, and sphenoid bones.

6. Lacrimal Bones

• Shown in pink; smallest bones in the skull.
• Functions: Part of the medial aspect of each orbit; involved in tear production/drainage.

7. Zygomatic Bones

• Shown in orange; forms part of each orbit and cheekbone.
• Features:
  • Temporal Process: Joins with temporal bone to form zygomatic arch (cheekbone).

8. Palatine Bones

• Shown in blue; deeper in the skull.
• Functions: Helps form orbits, nasal cavity, and oral cavity.

Conclusion

• This overview covered the essential features and functions of the facial bones.
• Encouragement to like, comment, subscribe, and visit the EasyMed blog for more notes.