cranial vault or calvaria
forms the superior, lateral, and posterior walls of the skull
cranial floor
forms skull bottom, has three distinct internal concavities (anterior, middle, posterior cranial fossae) in which the brain sits
frontal bone
anterior portion of the cranium; forms the forehead, superior part of the orbit, and floor of anterior cranial fossa
parietal bone
posterolateral to the frontal bone, forming sides of cranium
supraorbital foramen (notch)
opening above each orbit allowing blood vessels and nerves to pass
sagittal suture
midline articulation point of the two parietal bones
coronal suture
point of articulation of parietals with frontal bone
temporal bone
inferior to parietal bone on lateral skull; four major parts: squamous region, tympanic region, mastoid region, and petrous region
squamous suture
point of articulation of the temporal bone with the parietal bone
zygomatic process
bridgelike projection joining the zygomatic bone anteriorly, together these two bones form the zygomatic arch
mandibular fossa
rounded depression on the inferior surface of the zygomatic process (anterior to the ear); forms socket for the mandibular condyle
external acoustic meatus
canal leading to eardrum and middle
styloid process
needlike projection inferior to external acoustic meatus; attachment point for muscles and ligaments of the neck
mastoid process
rough projection inferior and posterior to external auditory acoustic meatus; attachment site for muscles
jugular foramen
opening medial to the styloid process through which the internal carotid artery passes into the cranial cavity
occipital bone
most posterior bone of the cranium - forms floor and back wall; joins sphenoid bone anteriorly via its narrow basioccipital region
lambdoid suture
site of articulation of occipital bone and parietal bones
foramen magnum
large opening in base of occipital, which allows the spinal cord to join with the brain
occipital condyles
rounded projections lateral to the foramen magnum that articulate with the first cervical vertebra (altas)
sphenoid bone
bat-shaped bone forming the anterior plateau of the middle cranial fossa across the width of the skull; keystone of the cranium because it articulates with all other cranial bones
sella turcica
a saddle-shaped region in the sphenoid midline
foramen rotundum
opening lateral to the sella turcica providing passage for a branch of the fifth cranial nerve
foramen ovale
opening posterior to the sella turcica that allows passage of a branch of the fifth cranial nerve
ethmoid bone
irregularly shaped bone anterior to the sphenoid; forms the roof of the nasal cavity, upper nasal septum, and part of the medial orbit walls
crista galli
vertical projection providing a point of attachment for the dura matter, helping to secure the brain within the skull; part of horizontal plate of ethmoid
cribriform plates
bony plates lateral to the crista galli through which olfactory fibers pass to the brain from the nasal mucosa; part of horizontal plate of the ethmoid bone
mandible
the lower jawbone, which articulates with the temporal bones in the only freely moveable joints of the skull
mandibular condyle
articulation point of the mandible with the mandibular fossa of the temporal bone
mental foramen
prominent opening on the body (lateral to the midline) that transmits the mental blood vessels and nerve to the lower jaw
maxillae
two bones fused in a median suture; form the upper jawbone and part of the orbits; all facial bones except mandible articulate
palatine process
form the anterior hard palate; meet medially in the intermaxillary suture
infraorbital foramen
opening under the orbit carrying the infraorbital nerves and blood vessels to the nasal region
lacrimal bone
fingernail sized bones forming a part of the medial orbit walls between the maxilla and the ethmoid; each bone has lacrimal fossa = tear passageway
palatine bone
paired bones posterior to the palatine processes; form posterior hard palate and part of the orbit; meet medially at the median palatine suture
zygomatic bone
lateral to the maxilla; forms the cheekbone and part of lateral orbit; has three processes
nasal bone
small rectangular bones forming the bridge of the nose
vomer
blade-shaped bone in median plane of nasal cavity that forms the posterior and inferior nasal septum
inferior nasal conchae
thin curved bones protruding medially from the lateral walls of the nasal cavity
fontanelle
infant skull bones that are incomplete and connected by unossified remnants of fibrous membranes that allow the infant's head to be compressed slightly during birth and accomodate brain growth in the fetus and infant (anterior, occipital, mastoid, sphenoidal)
anterior fontanelle
large and diamond-shaped, palpable for 1.5-2 years after birth
cervical vertebrae
7 bones, C1-C7
body - small, wide
spinous process - short; bifid; projects directly posteriorly
vertebral foramen - triangular
transverse process - contain foramina
superior/inferior articulating processes - superoposteriorly/inferoanteriorly
movements - flexion, extension, most range of motion
thoracic vertebrae
12 bones T1-T12
body - larger, heart-shaped, costal facets
spinous process - long, sharp, projects inferiorly
vertebral foramen - circular
superior/inferior articulating processes - posteriorly/anteriorly
movement - rotation
lumbar vertebrae
5 bones L1-L5
body - massive, kidney-shaped
spinous process - short; blunt; projects posteriorly
vertebral foramen - circular
transverse processes - thin and tapered
superior/inferior articulating processes - posteromedially/anterolaterally
saccrum
composite bone formed from the fusion of five vertebra