Skull Lab Prep Review

The sella turcica is best described as:

A depression

Identify the part of the mandible that serves as a site of attachment for the temporalis muscle.

Coronoid process

Which of the following bones is not a facial bone?

Ethmoid ~ The ethmoid bone forms the area of the cranium between the nasal cavity and the orbits.

Identify the hole that marks the opening of the ear canal on the superficial surface of the skull.

External auditory meatus

Identify the location of the sphenoid bone.

Floor of the skull

Name the opening in the occipital bone through which the spinal cord passes.

Foramen magnum

Which of the following foramen convey a branch of the trigeminal nerve (CN V)?

Foramen rotundum

Which of the following bones is unpaired?

Frontal There is only one frontal bone. It forms the anterior portion of the cranium (the forehead region).

Identify the small hole on the maxillary bone located below the orbit.

Infraorbital foramen The conspicuous infraorbital foramen is located below the orbit on the maxillary bone, as its name indicates.

Identify the small facial bones found in the medial wall of the orbit.

Lacrimal

Which bone is NOT considered to be part of the cranium?

Lacrimal bone It is a facial bone

Identify the large suture on the posterior surface of the skull at the border of the occipital bone.

Lambdoid The lambdoid suture is found between the occipital bone and the parietal and temporal bones.

Identify the region of the sphenoid bone that contains the optic canal.

Lesser wings

Identify the skull bone that can move independent of head movement.

Mandible

Which region of the mandible articulates with the cranium?

Mandibular condyle

Identify the region of the temporal bone that articulates with the lower jaw.

Mandibular fossa

Name the U shaped border found between the mandibular condyle and the coronoid process.

Mandibular notch The mandibular notch is the name of the U shaped border found between the mandibular condyle and the coronoid process.

Which of the following facial bones contain a sinus?

Maxillary The maxillary bones contain the maxillary sinuses. They are the largest sinuses, located laterally to the nasal cavity in the region of the cheek.

Which facial bones fuse to form the upper jaw?

Maxillary ~ The fused maxillary bones are known as the maxilla, and form the upper jaw and part of the palate.

Which surface of the maxillary bones fuse together?

Medial The medial surfaces of the right and left maxillary bones fuse together to form the upper jaw. The upper jaw is referred to as the maxilla.

Which facial bones makeup the central portion of the bridge of the nose?

Nasal

Which of the following bones do not contain a sinus?

Nasal

Which of the following locations is not formed by part of the maxillae?

Nasal septum

Identify the occipital bone landmark that can not be palpated from the surface of the head.

Occipital condyles

Identify the area of the occipital bone that articulates with the vertebral column.

Occipital condyles The occipital condyles are found on the inferior surface of the skull on either side of foramen magnum. They articulate with the first cervical vertebra, the atlas. This articulation allows us to flex and extend the skull in a nodding "yes" motion.

Identify the posterior most region of the hard palate.

Palatine bone The horizontal plates of the palatine bones articulate with the palatine processes of the maxillary bones. The palatine bones form the posterior one-third of the hard palate.

Which part of the maxillary bones form the roof of the mouth?

Palatine bones The palatine processes of the maxillary bones fuse on midline at the intermaxillary suture, forming the anterior portion of the hard palate (roof of the mouth).

Identify the bone that articulates superiorly with the temporal bone.

Parietal bone

Identify the location of the occipital bone.

Posterior surface and base of the cranium

Identify the suture found between the 2 parietal bones.

Sagittal suture

Identify the region of the sphenoid bone in contact with the pituitary gland.

Sella turcica

Which cranial bone spans the width of the cranial floor?

Sphenoid

The mandible is not responsible for:

Structure of the palate

Identify the landmark on the temporal bone that is a pointy spine.

Styloid process

The sphenoid bone contains a sinus.

True

What is the anatomical name for the facial bones known as "cheekbones"?

Zygomatic bones

Which foramen is the passageway for nerves to exit the cranium and innervate the jaw and its associated structures?

foramen ovale

Which structures are the joint surfaces that allow the cranium to articulate with the vertebral column?

occipital condyles

Which structure acts as a passageway for blood vessels that provide oxygen and nourishment to the brain?

the carotid canal The carotid arteries provide the large volume of blood to supply the the brain's metabolic needs for oxygen and nutrients. They enter the cranial cavity through the carotid canals in the temporal bones.