Skeletal: Main Cranial Bones and Sutures, Fontanels...

incus

(anvil)—the incus lies between the malleus and the stapes, articulating with both bones to transmit sound vibrations from the malleus to the stapes.

malleus

(hammer)—this ossicle remains in direct contact with the tympanic membrane (ear drum), transmitting the vibrations of sound waves on to the incus with which it articulates.

nasal turbinates

(nasal conchae) curved bone projections into the nasal cavity. There are three turbinates on each side creating four air passages per side.

stapes

(stirrup)—the stapes transmits sound vibrations from the incus to the membranous oval window, leading to the inner ear.

anterolateral fontanel

An interval on either side of the head where the frontal angle of the temporal bone and greater wing of the sphenoid meet.

occipital bone (cranial bone)

Bone situated at the posterior and inferior part of the cranium; articulating with the two parietal and two temporal bones

frontal bone (cranial bone)

Bone that closes the anterior part of the cranial cavity and forms the skeleton of the forehead

temporal bones (cranial bone)

Bones forming part of the lateral surfaces and the base of the skull, and containing the organs of hearing

parietal bones (cranial bone)

Bones forming part of the superior and lateral surfaces of the skull, and joining each other in the midline at the sagittal suture

sagittal suture (joins bones together)

Joins one parietal bone to the other parietal bone

coronal suture(joins bones together)

Joins the frontal bone to the two parietal bones

squamous suture (joins bones together)

Joins the parietal bones to the temporal bones

lambdoid suture (joins bones together)

Joins the two parietal bones to the occipital bone

posterolateral fontanel

The interval on either side of the head between the mastoid angle of the parietal bone, the temporal bone, and the occipital bone.

hyoid

The neck contains the only "floating" bone of the entire body. It is shaped like a U and is supported by the muscles of the neck.

anterior fontanel

The space where the frontal angles of the parietal bones meet the two ununited halves of the frontal bone.

posterior fontanel

The space where the occipital angles of the parietal bones meet the occipital.

occipital condyles

articular processes at the base of the skull. These articulate with the atlas vertebra to allow the head to nod.

supraorbital foramen

as the name suggests "supra" - above, "orbital" - referring to the orbit or the bones that make up the eye socket (shown below). Opening directly superficial to the eyebrow, the supraorbital foramen allows passage of the supraorbital nerve and the supraorbital artery and vein.

zygomatic arch

composed of the zygomatic bone anteriorly, and the zygomatic process of the temporal bone posteriorly, the zygomatic arch is a flat bridge of bone that extends from the "cheekbone" to the superior aspect of the external acoustic meatus. It serves as an attachment site for the masseter muscle.

styloid process (of the temporal bone)

lies inferior to the external acoustic meatus at the base of the temporal bone. The styloid process is a thin, pointed projection pointing antero-inferiorly that is the attachment site for small ligaments and muscles of the face and neck.

mastoid process

located postero-inferior to the external acoustic meatus, the mastoid process serves as the attachment point for several muscles including the sternocleidomastoid muscle.

ramus

of the mandible—These are the bilateral upward projections posterior to the teeth. Each ramus terminates in two processes, the coronoid process anteriorly and the condyloid process posteriorly, with the u-shaped mandibular notch between them.

coronoid process

of the mandible—located anterior to the condyloid process on the superior portion of the mandible, the coronoid process provides an attachment site for the temporalis muscle of the lateral skull.

condyloid process

of the mandible—the condyloid (resembling a condyle) process of the mandible lies anterior to the external acoustic meatus. It forms the articular surface joining the temporal bone to form the temporomandibular joint.

foramen

opening or hole in a bone.

process

prominence or projection.

mandibular notch

the "U"-shaped depression at the superior border of the ramus located between the condyloid and coronoid processes.

supraorbital process of the frontal bone

the bony ridge along the inferior aspect of the forehead.

external acoustic meatus

the exterior skeletal opening of the ear canal. The external acoustic meatus is located inferiorly on the temporal bone and is situated between the mastoid process and the condyloid process of the mandible.

foramen magnum

the large foramen at the base of the skull that transmits the spinal cord.

orbit

the paired bony depressions in the skull that house the eyes.