Chapter 7
Bones of the Cranium
Anatomical references
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Process

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raised area / projection
of bone
Sinus
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Fossa
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low area / depressed
area of bone


aka Fibrous joint
Immovable joints of the
skull
(4 pair)
hollow space in bone

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Suture

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aka (paranasal sinuses)
Makes mucus
Contributes to the
sound of your voice
Makes bones lighter
Foramen


hole through bone
Blood vessels and nerves
pass through
Skull Bones

22 total Cranial bones.
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
8 of the ‘skull’
14 of the ‘face’
Skull bones

Frontal bone

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
1 bone
Forms forehead
Frontal sinus
Skull bones

Parietal

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
2 bones
Form the top sides of
the skull
fontanel


Aka ‘soft spot’
Where frontal bone
and parietal join
Skull bones

Occipital bone



1 bone
Forms the back and
posterior base of the
skull.
Foramen magnum


Largest foramen of
the body
Spinal cord passes
through
Skull bones

Sphenoid bone

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
1 bone
Forms the anterior
base of the skull
Lower anterior of the
side of the skull
Sphenoid sinus
‘bat wing’ shaped
Sphenoid
(inferior)
→
Skull bones

Ethmoid bone




1 bone
Forms inner eye
socket
Separates nasal
cavity from brain
Ethmoid sinus

Many small sinuses


Honeycomb
Swiss cheese
Skull bones

Temporal bone



2 bones
Forms the lower
sides of the head.
TMJ

Temporomandibular
joint


Temporal bone
articulates w/ the
mandible
Ears are attached
Temporal bone

Landmarks

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Mastoid process
Styloid process
External auditory
meatus
Temporal fossa
Glenoid fossa
Articular eminence
Facial bones

Nasal bone



2 bones
Forms the bridge of the
nose
Vomer bone


1 bone
Forms part of floor of
nasal cavity


Nasal septum attaches
Inferior nasal conchae


2 bones
Divided into superior,
middle and inferior
Facial bones

Lacrimal bone


2 bones
Forms outer part of
the eye socket


Ethmoid bone forms
the inner part of the
eye socket.
Tear ducts pass
through
Facial bones

Zygomatic bone





Aka zygoma
2 bones
Forms the cheek
Sides of the eye
socket
‘cheek’ bones
Facial bones

Maxilla


2 bones
Forms the




upper jaw
face
anterior of hard
palate
Largest of the facial
bones
Facial bones

Landmarks of the
Maxilla


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
Median palatine
suture
Infraorbital foramen
Incisive foramen
Alveolar process


Bone that supports
the teeth
Maxillary sinus
Facial bones

Palatine bone

2 bones


Forms the posterior
of the hard palate.
Floor of the nasal
cavity



Transverse palatine
suture
Greater palatine
foramen
Lesser palatine
foramina (plural)
Facial bones

Mandible

Only moveable bone
of the face.


Strongest bone
1 bone (starts as 2)


½’s join at the
mandibular
symphysis
NO suture

Landmarks
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Mental foramen
Mandibular foramen
Lingual foramen
Ramus (rami)
Condyloid process

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TMJ
Alveolar process
Retromolar area
Facial bones
TMJ

Temporomandibular
joint


Landmarks

Temporal bone
articulates with the
mandible.
Synovial joint



Hinge/glide action
TMD

Disorder /
dysfunction
Bony



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Condyloid process
Articular eminence
Glenoid fossa
Soft tissue

Meniscus


Articular disc
Capsular ligament
TMJ
Conclusion
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
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Knowing the bones of the head, face,
and skull is an important part of your
job.
Understanding the facial bones, their
landmarks and how they relate to
dentistry will make you more valuable
to your dentist.
Any questions???????