Skull

Osteology &
Cranial Cavity
Rebecca S Luer, PhD
Head and Neck Anatomy
February 23, 2012

Lecture Overview
Cranium osteology
External features of skull

Paranasal Sinuses
Cranial fossae
Internal features of skull

Meninges
Dural venous sinuses

Intracranial hemorrhage

The Cranium
Neurocranium
Made up of the
bones and Ossues
(meninges)
surrounding the
brain

Viscerocranium
Made up of the
facial bones

Neurocranium
Anterior

Eight bones
Frontal
Parietal (2)
Occipital
Temporal (2)
Sphenoid
Ethmoid (part)

Frontal

Parietal

Occipital

Parietal

Posterior

Neurocranium
Eight bones
Frontal
Parietal (2) Calvaria
roof
Occipital
Temporal (2)
Sphenoid
Ethmoid (part)

Parietal

Parietal

Occipital

Neurocranium
Eight bones
Frontal
Parietal (2)
Occipital
Temporal (2)
Sphenoid
Ethmoid (part)

Neurocranium
Eight bones
Frontal
Parietal (2)
Occipital
Temporal (2)
Sphenoid
Ethmoid (part)
Basicranium
floor

Neurocranium
Meninges
Membranous coverings
which serve to:
Protect the brain within
the cranial cavity
Provide support for
arteries, veins, and
venous sinuses
Enclose the subarachnoid
space lled with uid
nourishment for the brain

Viscerocranium
15 bones
Ethmoid (part)
Vomer
Mandible
Maxilla (2)
Inferior nasal concha
(2)
ZygomaOc (2)
Nasal (2)
PalaOne (2)
Lacrimal (2)

Viscerocranium
15 bones
Ethmoid (part)
Vomer
Mandible
Maxilla (2)
Inferior nasal concha (2)
ZygomaOc (2)
Nasal (2)
PalaOne (2)
Lacrimal (2)

Fontanelles
Anterior
fontanelle
Age at closure:
~18-24 months

Sphenoid
(Anterolateral)
fontanelle
Age at closure:
< 6 months

Mastoid
(Posterolateral)
fontanelle
Age at closure:
< 24 months

Sutures
Coronal suture

Pterion

Lambdoid suture

Asterion

Fontanelles
Anterior
fontanelle

Posterior
fontanelle

Age at closure:
~18-24 months
Age at closure:
< 24 months

Sutures
Coronal suture
Lambdoid suture
Sagittal suture

Bregma

Lambda

External Skull Features - Anterior

Glabella
Nasion
Orbit
Anterior nasal
aperture
Alveolar process

Ramus
Angle
Body

Alveolar process

Mental
protuberance

Supraorbital
foramen

Superior orbital
fissure

Optic Posterior ethmoid

foramen
canal

Inferior orbital
fissure

Anterior ethmoid
foramen

Infraorbital
foramen

Supraorbital n. (CN V1)

CN III
CN IV
CN V1
CN VI

Optic n. Posterior ethmoidal n.

(CN V1)
(CN II)
Anterior ethmoidal n.
(CN V1)

Zygomatic n. (CN V2)

Infraorbital n. (CN V2)

Mandible
Coronoid
process
Lingula

Mylohyoid groove
Mylohyoid line

Mandibular
notch

Mandibular
foramen

Head

Ramus
Neck

Digastric
fossa

Superior & Inferior

genial spines

Body
Mental foramen

Angle

External Skull Features - Lateral

Lacrimal groove
Zygomaticofacial
foramen

Pterygomaxillary
fissure
External acoustic
meatus

Styloid
process

Mastoid process
Zygomatic arch =
Zygomatic process of temporal
bone + Temporal process of
zygomatic bone

External Skull Features - Lateral

Nasolacrimal duct
Zygomaticofacial n.
(CN V2)

Mental n.
(CN V3)

Pterygomaxillary fissure = Lateral

entrance into the pterygopalatine fossa,
housing pterygopalatine ganglion
with CN V2

Lecture Overview
Cranium osteology
External features of skull

Paranasal Sinuses
Cranial fossae
Internal features of skull

Meninges
Dural venous sinuses

Intracranial hemorrhage

Paranasal Sinuses
Air lled spaces within bone lined with
respiratory epithelium.
Develop prenatally and conOnue to grow
throughout life.
FuncOon is debated, includes to lighten weight
of skull, increasing voice resonance,
humidifying inhaled air.

Paranasal Sinuses
Frontal

Ethmoid

Maxillary

Paranasal Sinuses

Frontal

Ethmoid
Sphenoid
Mastoid
air cells (NOT
paranasal sinus)
Maxillary

SinusiOs

http://www.clevelandclinicmeded.com/medicalpubs/diseasemanagement/allergy/rhino-sinusitis/images/rhino-sinusitisfig1_thumb.jpg

SinusiOs

http://www.ghorayeb.com/files/maxillary_sinus_water_s_fluid_labeled.jpg

Lecture Overview
Cranium osteology
External features of skull

Paranasal Sinuses
Cranial fossae
Internal features of skull

Meninges
Dural venous sinuses

Intracranial hemorrhage

Cranial Fossae
Steps down from anterior posterior
Anterior cranial fossa

Middle cranial fossa

Posterior cranial fossa

Anterior
Cranial
Fossa

Frontal crest
Crista galli

Orbital part of frontal bone

Lesser wing of sphenoid
Anterior clinoid processes

Middle
Cranial
Fossa
Greater wing of sphenoid
Sella turcica =
Tuberculum sellae
Hypophysial fossa

Posterior
Cranial
Fossa
Clivus
Internal occipital crest
Internal occipital protuberance

Posterior clinoid
processes
Dorsum sellae
Petrous part of
temporal bone

Anterior
Cranial
Fossa

Foramen cecum
Cribriform plate

Anterior
Cranial
Fossa

Emissary vein
CN I

Middle
Cranial
Optic canal Fossa
Carotid notch
Groove for lesser
petrosal nerve

Foramen ovale
Foramen spinosum
Groove for middle
meningeal artery
Groove for greater
petrosal nerve
Foramen lacerum
Foramen rotundum
Superior orbital
fissure

Middle
Cranial
Fossa

Lesser petrosal n.

CN II
Internal carotid a.
V3 , lesser petrosal n.
Middle meningeal
a. and recurrent
meningeal n.
Middle
meningeal artery
Greater
petrosal nerve
Nothing

Lesser wing
Optic canal

Superior orbital
fissure
Greater wing

Foramen
rotundum

Pterygoid canal

Sphenoid bone,
posterior view

Posterior
Cranial
Fossa
Internal acoustic meatus
Jugular foramen
Hypoglossal
(anterior condylar)
canal
Foramen magnum

Posterior
Cranial
Fossa
CN VII and VIII
CN IX, X, XI,
Internal jugular v.
CN XII
CN XI (spinal root),
Spinal cord, vertebral aa.

Anterior
Cranial
Fossa

Foramen cecum
Cribriform plate

Groove for lesser

petrosal nerve

Posterior
Cranial
Fossa
Internal acoustic meatus
Jugular foramen
Hypoglossal
(anterior condylar)
canal
Foramen magnum

Middle
Cranial
Optic canal Fossa
Carotid notch
Foramen ovale
Foramen spinosum
Groove for middle
meningeal artery
Groove for greater
petrosal nerve
Foramen lacerum
Foramen rotundum
Superior orbital
fissure

Anterior
Cranial
Fossa

Emissary vein
CN I

Lesser petrosal n.

Posterior
Cranial
Fossa
CN VII and VIII
CN IX, X, XI,
Internal jugular v.
CN XII
CN XI (spinal root),
Spinal cord, vertebral aa.

Middle
Cranial
Fossa

CN II
Internal carotid a.
V3 , lesser petrosal n.
Middle meningeal
a. and recurrent
meningeal n.
Middle
meningeal artery
Greater
petrosal nerve
Nothing

Hamulus
Medial pterygoid
plate
Scaphoid
fossa
Lateral pterygoid
plate
Spine of sphenoid
Occipital
condyle

Inferior nuchal line

Superior nuchal line

Zygomatic
arch
Mandibular (glenoid)
fossa
Styloid
process
Mastoid
Pharyngeal process
tubercle
External occipital
protuberance

Incisive foramen
Greater palatine
foramen

Inferior orbital
fissure

Lesser palatine
foramen

Foramen
ovale

Pterygoid
canal

Foramen
spinosum

Foramen
lacerum

Stylomastoid
foramen

Foramen
magnum

Carotid
canal

Hypoglossal (anterior
condylar) canal

Jugular
Foramen

Nasopalatine n.
(CN V2)
Greater palatine n.
(CN V2)

Infraorbital and
zygomatic nn.
(CN V2)

Lesser palatine n.
(CN V2)

CN V3

Nerve of the
pterygoid canal
(CN V2)

Middle
meningeal a. and recurrent
meningeal n.

Internal carotid a.

CN VII
Spinal cord/Brainstem
CN XI (spinal component)
Vertebral aa.

CN XII

CN IX, X, XI,
Internal jugular v.

Chorda tympani (CN VII)

and anterior tympanic a.

Nerve of the pterygoid canal (V2)

Tympanic n. (CN IX)

The Squirrely Internal CaroOd

Lecture Overview
Cranium osteology
External features of skull

Paranasal Sinuses
Cranial fossae
Internal features of skull

Meninges
Dural venous sinuses

Intracranial hemorrhage

Meninges
First Layer

Dura mater Tough,

brous outer covering,
with an external
periosteal layer and
internal meningeal
layer.
- These two layers are
fused except where
there are dural venous
sinuses and dural
infoldings.

Dura mater
External
periosteal
layer
Internal
meningeal
layer

Dural Infoldings
Meningeal layer reects away from the periosteal layer
and divides the cranial cavity into compartments
Falx cerebri separates cerebral hemispheres

A[aches to the crista galli and internal occipital protuberance

Falx cerebelli lies between the cerebellar hemispheres

A[aches to internal occipital crest

Tentorium cerebelli separates the occipital lobes of the

cerebrum from the cerebellum (tent)

A[aches to posterior clinoid processes, petrous temporal bone, and

internal occipital bone

Diaphragma sellae lies over the pituitary gland

A[aches to all four clinoid processes

Dural Venous Sinuses

Superior sagi[al sinus

Endothelium lined spaces

draining blood away from
the brain to the internal
jugular vein
Superior sagi[al sinus
Inferior sagi[al sinus
Straight sinus
Conuence of sinuses
Occipital sinus

Inferior sagi[al sinus

Straight
sinus
Occipital
sinus
Conuence
of sinuses

 Straight sinus
Transverse sinus
Sigmoid sinus
Cavernous sinus
Inferior petrosal
sinus
Superior petrosal
sinus

Cavernous
sinus
Superior
petrosal
sinus

Straight
sinus

Inferior
petrosal
sinus

Sigmoid
sinus

Transverse
sinus
Conuence of
sinuses

Dural Venous Sinus Drainage

Cavernous sinus
Internal carotid a.

Occulomotor n. (CN III)

Trochlear n. (CN IV)
Ophthalmic Division V1
Maxillary Division V2
Abducent n. (CN VI)

Dural Venous Sinus Drainage

Superior sagittal sinus

Inferior sagittal sinus

Cavernous sinus

Straight sinus
Occipital sinus
Confluence of sinuses

Superior petrosal
sinus

Transverse sinus

*Note: Emissary veins pass

through small holes (foramina) in
the skull to the dural sinuses.
Provides a channel for
transmission of infection from the
scalp to the brain/meninges.

Sigmoid sinus
Internal jugular vein

Inferior petrosal
sinus

Dural InnervaOon
Anterior cranial fossa
CN V1, V2, and V3

V3

Middle cranial fossa

V2

CN V2 and V3

Posterior cranial fossa

Floor C2 and C3
Roof (tentorium) CN V1

Falx cerebri

Anterior Anterior meningeal

n., V1
Posterior Tentorial n., V1

V2
V3

V1

V1

Meninges
Second layer
Arachnoid mater
Thin, web-like middle
layer.
Arachnoid
- Covers a space, granulations
subarachnoid space,
containing
cerebrospinal uid
(CSF), arteries and
veins.

Dura mater

Arachnoid
mater

Meninges
Third layer

Pia mater Thinner, shiny inner

layer.
- Adheres directly to the surface
of the brain and follows every
curve of the cortex*.
*In lab, the dura will adhere to
the inside the calvarium at the
sutures, the arachnoid will
cover the sulci of the brain, and
the pia will follow the sulci.

Dura mater

Arachnoid
mater

Pia mater

Circle of Willis!
Anterior cerebral a.
Anterior
communicating a.
Middle cerebral a.
Internal carotid a.
Posterior
communicating a.
Posterior cerebral a.
Basilar a.
Vertebral a.

Lecture Overview
Cranium osteology
External features of skull

Paranasal Sinuses
Cranial fossae
Internal features of skull

Meninges
Dural venous sinuses

Intracranial hemorrhage

Intracranial Hemorrhage
Epidural hematoma
Severe head trauma, ie:
automobile accident,
skull fracture
Arterial bleeding,
between skull and dura
mater
Rapidly worsens and
contained by sutures
Causes brain shib and
compression

Biconvex lens shaped

Intracranial Hemorrhage
Subdural hematoma
Rapid acceleraOon or
deceleraOon,
shearing forces
Venous bleeding,
between dura mater
and arachnoid mater
Brain compression

Crescent/concave shaped

http://www.neurosurgery.com.sg/index.php?id=72

Intracranial Hemorrhage
Subarachnoid hematoma
Ruptured cerebral
aneurysm
Oben associated with a
severe headache
Brain compression,
ischemia
Lumbar puncture

Follows contours of the brain and spaces

normally occupied by CSF

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/344342-overview

Reference pages
Clinically Oriented Anatomy, 6th Ed., by Moore,
Dalley, and Agur
pp. 865-877
pp. 822-841
pp. 882-888
pp. 1053-1078 Bonus!

Baker et al: Head & Neck Anatomy for Dental Medicine. 2010 Thieme
Medical Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.