Head

Anatomy
Contents
• Cranium (Skull)
• Cervical vertebrae and hyoid bone
• SCALP
• Face
• Temporal and infratemporal fosse
• Pterygopalatine fossa
• Oral cavity
• Nasal cavity and paranasal air sinuses
• Orbit
• Ear
 THE SKULL
•The body’s most complex bony structure.
•It is formed by 8 cranial and 14 facial bones.

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•The cranium (skull) is the skeleton of the head.
•Has two parts:

1. The neurocranium houses the brain and its

membranous coverings (the cranial meninges).

•Formed by a series of eight bones: four unpaired

(frontal, ethmoidal, sphenoidal, and occipital) and two
paired (temporal and parietal).
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The neurocranium has:
1. Calvaria (skull-cap)- a
dome-like roof

2. Cranial base
(basicranium)-a floor

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The viscerocranium (facial skeleton)

•Forms the anterior part of the cranium.

•Consists of 14 irregular bones: 2 singular bones lying

in the midline (mandible and vomer) and 6 paired
bones (maxillae; inferior nasal conchae; zygomatic,
palatine, nasal, and lacrimal bones).

•The maxillae and mandible house the teeth.

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 1. Parietal Bones
• Two large bones, make up the bulk of the cranial vault.

• Form most of the superior part of the skull, as well as its

lateral walls (parietal wall).

• Articulate with other cranial bones to form four major

sutures:
• Coronal suture-parietal bones meet the frontal bone.
• Squamous suture-parietal bone meets a temporal bone
• Sagittal suture -right and left parietal bones meet
• Lambdoid suture –joins parietal occipital bones. 7
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• Parietal eminence, emissary foramen (2-4 cm anterior
to the lambdoid suture)
 2. Frontal Bone
• Forms the anterior
portion the cranium, the
forehead, roofs of the
orbits, and most of the
anterior cranial fossa.

• Parts:
• Zygomatic process
• Orbital plate
• Squamous
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Frontal Bone
Bone markings
• Frontal eminence
• Supraciliary arches
• Supraorbital foramen
• Orbits
• Anterior cranial fossa
• Glabella
• Nasion
• Frontal sinuses

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 Frontal Bone
•In its supraorbital margin it
has supraorbital foramen
(transmits the supraorbital
nerve (frontal N- ophtaLmic N- TJN-
V5) )

•Glabella- smooth part of the

frontal bone between
superciliary arches.

•Sutures: Coronal, frontonasal,

Frontomaxillary,
Zygomaticofrontal 12
 3. Occipital bone
• Posterior part of the cranium
and base

• Articulates with parietal bones

(lambdoid suture) and
temporal bones
(occipitomastoid sutures).

• Forms the walls of the

posterior cranial fossa

• Foramen magnum - a large

hole in its base – Spinal Cord
exits.
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• Articulates with parietal,
temporal and the first
cervical vertebrae
• Parts- squamous, basilar
• Sutures- lambdoid,
occipitomastoid,
parietomastoid, sagittal
• Two rocker like occipital
condyles- articulates with
C1.

• Hypoglossal canal-through
which runs cranial nerve XII.

• Basilar part of the occipital

bone-joins sphenoid bone

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• Two occipital condyles:
articulate with lateral mass
of atlas and its medial
rough side is for
attachment for alar
ligament

• Hypoglossal canal
(anterior condylar canal):
passage for hypoglossal
nerve, meningeal branch
of ascending pharyngeal
artery and emissary veins
from basilar plexus
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Posterior condylar canal:
emissary veins connecting
sigmoid sinus with sub
occipital venous plexus

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• Jugular foramen: three
parts; anterior part for
inferior petrosal sinus,
middle parts for CN IX, X
and XI and the posterior part
for internal jugular vein
• Jugular process of
occipital bone: insertion for
splenius capitis lateralis
muscle, groove for occipital
artery

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• The external occipital
protuberance

• The external occipital crest-

extends to the FM

• The superior and the inferior

nuchal lines.

• The superior nuchal line marks

the upper limit of the neck.

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 Particular features of the Nuchal lines
• Highest nuchal line – the
medial 1/3 and lateral 2/3 for
attachment of epicranial
aponeurosis and occipital belly
of Occiptofrontal muscle
respectively

• Superior nuchal line- medial

1/3 for trapezius and lateral
2/3 for sternocleidomastoid
and splenius capitis
 Particular features of the nuchal lines
• Area b/n superior and inferior
nuchal line- medially and
laterally for semispinalis
capitis & superior oblique
respectively

• Area b/n inferior nuchal line

and foramen magnum – rectus
capitis minor and rectus capitis
major medially and laterally
respectively
 Foramen magnum
Boundary: basilar (anterior), condylar
(lateral)& squamous (posterior) parts of
the occipital bone.
Structures passing:
• Lower part of medulla oblongata with
meninges
• Tonsil of cerebellum & accessory N
(Spinal root).
• 2 Vertebral arteries with sympathetic
plexus
• 3 spinal arteries - 2 anterior & 1
posterior
• Apical ligament- remnant of sheath of
notochord
• Membrana tectoria
• Longitudinal band of cruciate ligament
• They lie inferior to the parietal 4. Temporal Bones
bones and form the inferolateral
region of the skull and parts of the
cranial floor.

• Four major regions: the squamous,

tympanic, mastoid, and petrous

• The plate-shaped squamous region

abuts the squamous suture.

• It has a bar like zygomatic process

that projects anteriorly to meet the
zygomatic bone of the face.

• Together, these two bony structures

form the zygomatic arch (cheek
bone). 23
• The oval mandibular fossa on the
inferior surface of the zygomatic
process receives the mandible,
forming the freely movable
temporomandibular joint(TMJ) (
jaw joint).

• The tympanic region surrounds

the external acoustic meatus.

• Projecting inferiorly from the

tympanic region is the needle-
like styloid process.
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• The mastoid region has a
prominent mastoid process, an
anchoring site for some neck
muscles.

• This process can be felt as a

lump just posterior to the ear.

• The stylomastoid foramen-

between the styloid and
mastoid processes-the facial
nerve, leaves the skull through
this foramen
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• The petrous -contributes to the
cranial base.

• It appears as a bony wedge

between the occipital bone
posteriorly and the sphenoid bone
anteriorly.

• looks like a mountain ridge.

• The posterior slope in the

posterior cranial fossa, anterior
slope in middle cranial fossa.

• Housed in the petrous region -

middle and inner ear: contain
apparatus for hearing and balance.
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• Jugular foramen is located
where the petrous region joins
the occipital bone.
• The IJV and cranial nerves IX- XI
pass through it
• The carotid canal opens in the
petrous region on the skull’s
inferior aspect, anterior to the
JF.
• The ICA passes through it into
the cranial cavity.
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The IAM lies in the cranial
cavity on the posterior face of
the petrous region: transmits
cranial nerves VII(Facial) and
VIII(VCN).
 5. Sphenoid Bone
• Spans the width of the cranial
floor and resembles a bat with
its wings spread.

• It is the keystone of the

cranium because it forms a
central wedge that articulates
with every other cranial bone.
The body bears a saddle-shaped
• It consists of a central body and prominence, the sella turcica
three pairs of processes: the “Turkish saddle”)- hypophyseal fossa,
holds the pituitary gland.
greater wings, lesser wings, and
pterygoid processes. 30
• The sphenoid bone- five
openings on each side.

• The optic canal-anterior to

the sella turcica.

• Cranial nerve II, the optic

nerve, passes through this
hole

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• The other four openings lie in
a crescent-shaped row just
lateral to the sphenoid body
on each side.

• The most anterior of these

openings, the superior orbital
fissure, is a long slit between
the greater and lesser wings.

• It transmits cranial nerves (III,

IV, and VI).
• The foramen rotundum lies in
the medial part of the greater
wing: maxillary branch of CN V
passes.

• The foramen ovale is an oval hole

posterolateral to the foramen
rotundum: mandibular branch of
CN V passes

• Foramen spinosum-
posterolateral to the foramen
ovale: middle meningeal artery
passes
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 6. Ethmoid Bone
• The most deeply situated
bone of the skull.

• Lies anterior to the sphenoid

bone and posterior to the
nasal bones.

• A remarkably thin-walled and

delicate bone.

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• Its superior surface is formed
by paired, horizontal
cribriform “perforated like a
sieve” plates that contribute to
the roof of the nasal cavities
and the floor of the anterior
cranial fossa.

• The cribriform plates are

perforated by tiny holes called
olfactory foramina.

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• The filaments of cranial nerve I,
the olfactory nerve, pass
through these holes as they run
from the nasal cavity to the
brain.

• Between the two cribriform

plates, in the midline, is a
superior projection called the
crista galli; “rooster’s comb”).

• A fibrous membrane called the

falx cerebri attaches to the crista
galli and helps to secure the
brain within the cranial cavity.
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• The perpendicular plate of the
ethmoid bone projects inferiorly in
the median plane.

• It forms the superior part of the nasal

septum, the vertical partition that
divides the nasal cavity into right
and left halves.

• Ethmoidal air cells (ethmoid

sinuses).
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• Extending medially from the
lateral masses-superior and middle
nasal conchae: protrude into the
nasal cavity.

• The lateral surfaces of the

ethmoid’s lateral masses are called
orbital plates because they
contribute to the medial walls of
the orbits.

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 2.Facial bones
1. Mandible- lower jaw bone
• U-shaped
• is the largest, strongest bone in
the face
• It has a horizontal body that
forms the inferior jawline, and
two upright rami (“branches”).
• Each ramus meets the body
posteriorly at a mandibular
angle.
• At the superior margin of each
ramus are two processes. 40
• The anterior coronoid process;
“crown-shaped”) is a flat,
triangular projection.

• The posterior condylar Process

enlarges superiorly to form the
mandibular condyle, or head of
the mandible.

• It articulates with the temporal

bone to form the
temporomandibular joint.

• Coronoid and condylar processes

are separated by the mandibular
notch 41
• The body of the mandible anchors the
lower teeth and forms the chin.

• Anteriorly, the fusion between the two

halves of the mandible is called the
mental protuberance.

• Several openings pierce the mandible.

• Mandibular foramen-on the medial

surface of each ramus: inferior
alveolar nerve enters the mandibular
body. 42
2. Maxillary Bones- upper jaw
• Forms the central part of the facial
skeleton
• They are the keystone bones of the
face because they articulate with all
other facial bones except the
mandible.
• Have an alveolar margin that contains
teeth in alveoli.
• The palatine processes project
medially from the alveolar margins to
form the anterior region of the hard
palate, or bony roof of the mouth.
• The frontal processes extend
superiorly to reach the frontal bone
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• The maxillae lie just lateral to
the nasal cavity and contain the
maxillary sinuses.

• The largest of the paranasal air

sinuses

• Laterally, the maxillae articulate

with the zygomatic bones at the
zygomatic processes.

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• The maxilla, along with several
other bones, forms the borders
of the inferior orbital fissure in
the floor of the orbit.
• This fissure transmits several
vessels and nerves, including
the maxillary nerve or its
continuation, the infraorbital
nerve.
• The infraorbital nerve proceeds
anteriorly to enter the face
through the infraorbital
foramen.
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 3. Zygomatic Bones (cheekbone)
• Each joins the zygomatic process of a
temporal bone posteriorly, the
zygomatic process of the frontal bone
superiorly, and the zygomatic process of
the maxilla anteriorly.
4. Nasal Bones
• The paired, rectangular nasal bones join
medially to form the bridge of the nose.
• They articulate with the frontal bone
superiorly, the maxillae laterally, and the
perpendicular plate of the ethmoid bone
posteriorly.
• Inferiorly, they attach to the cartilages
that form most of the skeleton of the
external nose.
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 Lacrimal Bones
• Delicate, fingernail-shaped bones
located in the medial orbital walls.

• They articulate with the frontal bone

superiorly, the ethmoid bone
posteriorly, and the maxilla anteriorly.

• Contains a deep groove (a lacrimal

fossa containing lacrimal sac).

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 Palatine Bones
• The palatine bones lie posterior to the
maxillae.

• These paired, L-shaped bones

articulate with each other at their
inferior horizontal plates, which
complete the posterior part of the hard
palate.

• The perpendicular plates form the

posterior part of the lateral walls of the
nasal cavity and a small part of the
orbits .
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 7. Vomer
• It forms the inferior part of the nasal
septum.
8. Inferior Nasal Conchae
• The paired inferior nasal conchae are
thin, curved bones in the nasal cavity

• Projecting medially from the lateral

walls of the nasal cavity, just inferior
to the middle nasal conchae of the
ethmoid bone

• The largest of the three pairs of

conchae.
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 Internal surface of the skull
• Granular pits (faveolae)- located on the side of
the frontal sulcus, it is the impression of the
arachnoid granulation more marked in the
skull of old people
• Groove for meningeal vessels- impressions of
anterior (frontal) branch of middle meningeal
artery. It lies 1cm behind coronal suture and is
a land mark of precentral gyrus
• Two parietal emissary foramina- 3cm in front
of the lambdoid suture
• Impression of the cerebral gyri of the brain
 Internal surface of the base of the skull
• Three cranial fossa: anterior,
middle and posterior
Anterior cranial fossa: bones forming
are:
• Median part- anteriorly ethmoid
bone (cribriform plate and crista
galli ) and posteriorly anterior part
of body of sphenoid
• Lateral part- anteriorly orbital plate
of ethmoid and posteriorly lesser
wing of sphenoid
Middle cranial fossa
• Deeper than anterior cranial fossa
• Bones forming are: body of
sphenoid medially and laterally
Greater wing of sphenoid, petrous
and squamous part of temporal bone
anteriorly, posteriorly and laterally
respectively

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Posterior cranial fossa
• The largest and the deepest fossa
containing pons and medulla
oblongata anteriorly and
cerebellum posteriorly
Formed by:
• Anteriorly: in order are dorsum
sellae of sphenoid, posterior part
of body of sphenoid and basilar
part of occipital bones
• Laterally: posterior surface of
petrous part of temporal bone,
mastoid part of temporal bone and
condylar part of the occipital
bone
• Posteriorly: squamous part of
occipital bone
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 CRANIOMETRIC POINTS OF CRANIUM
• Pterion (G. wing)
• Junction of greater wing of sphenoid,
squamous temporal, frontal, and parietal
bones; overlies course of anterior division
of middle meningeal artery
• Lambda (G. the letter L)
• Point on calvaria at junction of lambdoid
and sagittal sutures
• Bregma (G. forepart of head)
• Point on calvaria at junction of coronal and
sagittal sutures
• Vertex (L. whirl, whorl)
• Superior point of neurocranium, in middle
with cranium oriented in anatomical
(orbitomeatal or Frankfort) plane
• Asterion (G. asterios, starry)
• Star shaped; located at junction of three
sutures: parietomastoid, occipitomastoid,
and lambdoid
• Glabella (L. smooth, hairless)
• Smooth prominence; most marked in
males; on frontal bones superior to root
of nose; most anterior projecting part of
forehead
• Inion (G. back of head)
• Most prominent point of external
occipital protuberance
• Nasion (L. nose)
• Point on cranium where frontonasal and
internasal sutures meet
Sex/Age difference in the skull bones

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