Skull
Superior View
Bones
frontal
parietal
(L. paries, wall)
occipital
Landmarks
coronal suture
details - between frontal and parietal bones
sagittal suture
details - between parietal bones
bregma
(G. the forepart of the head)
details - junction of coronal and sagittal sutures
parietal eminence
lambdoid suture
details - between occipital and parietal bones
lambda
details - between frontal and parietal bones
Lateral View
Bones
parietal
(L. paries, wall)
frontal
nasal
lacrimal
ethmoid
zygomatic
maxilla
mandible
temporal
occipital
sphenoid
(L. wedge)
Landmarks
superior temporal line
attachments - temporal fascia
inferior temporal line
attachments - temporalis muscle
pterion
details - area where parietal, sphenoid, frontal and temporal bones meet
frontal process (zygomatic)
(G. zygon, yoke, a joining)
attachments - masseter muscle
zygomatic arch
(G. zygon, yoke, a joining)
attachments - masseter muscle
zygomatic process (temporal)
(G. zygon, yoke, a joining)
attachments - masseter muscle
temporal process (zygomatic)
coronal suture
details - between frontal and parietal bones
lambdoid suture
details - between occipital and parietal bones
external auditory meatus
(L. a going, passage)
styloid process
(G. stylos, pillar, post)
attachments - stylohyoid, stylopharyngeus and styloglossus muscles and stylohyoid ligament
mastoid process
attachments - sternocleidomastoid, splenius capitis and longissimus capitis muscles
mandibular fossa
function - articulates with TMJ disc
articular tubercle
Sagittal View
Bones
occipital
parietal
(L. paries, wall)
maxilla
frontal
temporal
sphenoid
(L. wedge)
inferior concha
palatine
ethmoid
Landmarks
sphenopalatine foramen
function - transmits the sphenopalatine artery and vein, and posterior superior nasal nerve
sphenoid sinus
frontal sinus
air cells
hard palate
pterygoid hamulus
(L. small hook)
function - deflects the tendon of the tensor palatini muscle
internal auditory meatus
function - transmits facial and vestibulocochlear nerves
hypoglossal canal
grooves for the middle meningeal artery
Infratemporal View
Bones
zygomatic
temporal
sphenoid
(L. wedge)
occipital
maxilla
palatine
Landmarks
pterygomaxillary fissure
function - transmits the posterior superior alveolar nerve, and the infraorbital, sphenopalatine and greater palatine arteries and veins
sphenopalatine foramen
function - transmits the sphenopalatine artery and vein, and posterior superior nasal nerve
pterygoid hamulus
(L. small hook)
function - deflects the tendon of the tensor palatini muscle
Anterior Cranial Fossa
Bones
frontal
ethmoid
Landmarks
cribriform plate
(L. a sieve)
crista galli
(L. crest)
attachments - falx cerebri
lesser wing (sphenoid)
optic canal
function - transmits the optic nerve and ophthalmic artery
anterior clinoid process
attachments - tentorium cerebelli
olfactory foramina
function - transmit the olfactory nerve
Medial portion of Middle Cranial Fossa
Bones
occipital
temporal
Landmarks
lesser wing (sphenoid)
greater wing (sphenoid)
body (sphenoid)
optic canal
function - transmits the optic nerve and ophthalmic artery
superior orbital fissure
function - transmits ophthalmic, oculomotor, trochlear and abducens nerves and the ophthalmic vein
foramen rotundum
function - transmits the maxillary nerve
anterior clinoid process
attachments - tentorium cerebelli
sulcus chiasmaticus
(G. chiasma, two crossing lines, from the letter chi)
function - houses the optic chiasm
tuberculum sellae
sella turcica
(L. saddle)
dorsum sella
hypophyseal fossa
(G. an undergrowth)
function - houses the pituitary
Lateral portion of Middle Cranial Fossa
Bones
occipital
temporal
sphenoid
(L. wedge)
Landmarks
carotid groove
function - houses the internal carotid artery and carotid nerve
foramen ovale
function - transmits the mandibular nerve and accessory meningeal artery
carotid canal
function - houses the internal carotid artery and carotid nerve
foramen lacerum
(L. lacero, to tear)
foramen spinosum
function - transmits the middle meningeal artery and meningeal (recurrent) branch of the mandibular nerve
foramen rotundum
function - transmits the maxillary nerve
hiatus and groove for the greater petrosal nerve
function - transmits the greater petrosal nerve
hiatus and groove for the lesser petrosal nerve
function - transmits the lesser petrosal nerve
groove for the middle meningeal artry
function - houses the middle meningeal artery
Posterior Cranial Fossa
Bones
sphenoid
(L. wedge)
temporal
occipital
Landmarks
foramen magnum
(L. magnus, large)
function - transmits the spinal cord, vertebral artery and vein, and accessory nerve
occipital condyle
function - articulates with the atlas
hypoglossal canal
function - transmits hypoglossal nerve
foramen ovale
function - transmits the mandibular nerve and accessory meningeal artery
internal auditory meatus
function - transmits the facial and vestibulocochlear nerves
jugular foramen
(L. jugulum, throat)
function - transmits the internal jugular vein, and the glossopharyngeal, vagus and accessory nerves
sulcus for the sigmoid sinus
function - houses the sigmoid sinus
trigeminal impression
function - houses trigeminal ganglion
groove for superior petrosal sinus
function - houses superior petrosl sinus
Frontal View
Bones
inferior concha
nasal
Landmarks
glabella
nasion
Details - junction of internasal and frontonasal sutures
nasal septum
middle concha
anterior nasal spine
incisive fossa
canine eminence
canine fossa
Anterior View
Bones
frontal
parietal
(L. jugulum, throat)
sphenoid
(L. wedge)
temporal
zygomatic
maxilla
nasal
mandible
Landmarks
frontal process (maxilla)
infraorbital margin
infraorbital foramen
function - transmits the infraorbital nerve, artery and vein
zygomatic process arch
(G. zygon, yoke, a joining)
attachments - masseter muscle
maxillary process (zygomatic)
zygomaticofacial foramen
anterior nasal spine
alveolar process (maxilla)
function - houses roots of upper teeth
incisive fossa
canine eminence
canine fossa
tuberosity (maxilla)
orbit Landmarks
superciliary arch
(L. cilium, eyelash)
supraorbital foramen
function - transmits the supraorbital nerve, artery and vein
supraorbital margin
frontal process (maxilla)
maxillary process (zygomatic)
zygomatic process
(G. zygon, yoke, a joining)
attachments - masseter muscle
inferior orbital fissure
superior orbital fissure
function - transmits the ophthalmic, oculomotor, trochlear and abducens nerves, and the ophthalmic vein
optic canal
function - transmits the optic nerve and ophthalmic artery
orbital surface (lacrimal bone)
Orbital View
Bones
frontal
ethmoid
palatine
nasal
lacrimal
sphenoid
(L. wedge)
zygomatic
maxilla
Landmarks
supraorbital foramen
function - transmits the supraorbital nerve, artery and vein
optic canal
function - transmits the optic nerve and ophthalmic artery
anterior ethmoidal foramen
function - transmits the anterior ethmoidal nerve, artery and vein
posterior ethmoidal foramen
function - transmits the posterior ethmoidal nerve, artery and vein
superior orbital fissure
function - transmits the ophthalmic, oculomotor, trochlear and abducens nerves, and the ophthalmic vein
inferior orbital fissure
infraorbital groove
function - transmits the infraorbital nerve, artery and vein
infraorbital foramen
function - transmits the infraorbital nerve, artery and vein
posterior lacrimal crest
anterior lacrimal crest
attachments - medial palpebral ligament
fossa for the lacrimal sac
function - houseS the lacrimal sac
Anterior portion of the Basal View
Bones
maxilla
palatine
vomer
(L. ploughshare)
occipital
temporal
sphenoid
(L. wedge)
Landmarks
incisive fossa
function - transmits the nasopalatine nerve and greater palatine artery
lesser palatine foramen
function - transmits the lesser palatine nerve, artery and vein
foramen spinosum
function - transmits the middle meningeal artery and meningeal (recurrent) branch of the mandibular nerve
scaphoid fossa
(G. skaphe, skiff, boat)
attachments - tensor palatini muscle
pterygoid canal
function - transmits the nerve of the pterygoid canal
cruciform suture
details - between the palatine processes of the the maxilla and the horizontal processes of the palatine bones
greater palatine foramen
function - transmits the greater palatine nerve, artery and vein
foramen ovale
function - transmits the mandibular nerve and accessory meningeal artery
Anterior Part of the middle portion of the Basal View
Bones
maxilla
sphenoid
(L. wedge)
occipital
temporal
palatine
Landmarks
pterygoid process
medial pterygoid plate
lateral pterygoid plate
attachments - lateral and medial pterygoid muscles
pterygoid hamulus
(L. small hook)
function - deflects the tendon of the tensor veli palatini muscle
scaphoid fossa
(G. skaphe, skiff, boat)
attachments - tensor palatini muscle
palatovaginal canal
function - transmits the pharyngeal branch of the maxillary nerve
pterygoid canal
function - transmits the nerve of the pterygoid canal
foramen ovale
function - transmits the mandibular nerve and accessory meningeal artery
pterygoid fossa
attachments - medial pterygoid muscle
Posterior Part of the middle portion of the Basal View
Bones
sphenoid
(L. wedge)
occipital
temporal
Landmarks
foramen spinosum
function - transmits the middle meningeal artery and meningeal (recurrent) branch of the mandibular nerve
spine (sphenoid)
attachments - sphenomandibular ligament
foramen ovale
function - transmits the mandibular nerve and accessory meningeal artery
foramen lacerum
(L. lacero, to tear)
pterygoid canal
function - transmits the nerve of the pterygoid canal
auditory tube
carotid canal
function - transmits the internal carotid artery and carotid nerve
styloid process
(G. stylos, pillar, post)
attachments - stylohyoid, stylopharyngeus and styloglossus muscles and stylohyoid ligament
stylomastoid foramen
function - transmits the facial nerve
mastoid process
attachments - sternocleidomastoid, splenius capitis and longissimus capitis muscles
jugular foramen
(L. jugulum, throat)
function - transmits the internal jugular vein, and the glossopharyngeal, vagus and accessory nerves
tympanic canaliculus
(L. small canal)
function - trnsmits the tympanic nerve
mandibular fossa
function - articulates with the TMJ disc
articular eminence
postglenoid tubercle
tegmen tympani
details - sliver of bone in the squamotympanic fissure
pterotympanic fissure
(L. petra, rock, G. tympanon, drum)
function - transmits the chorda tymapni nerve
squamotympanic fissure
attachments - articular disc
Posterior portion of the Basal View
Bones
occipital
temporal
parietal
(L. paries, wall)
Landmarks
occipital condyle
function - articulates with the atlas
foramen magnum
function - transmits the spinal cord, vertebral artery and vein, and accessory nerve
condylar canal
occipital groove
function - houses occipital artery
mastoid process
attachments - sternocleidomastoid, splenius capitis and longissimus capitis muscles
mastoid notch
attachments - posterior belly of the digastric muscle
external occipital crest
attachments - ligamentum nuchae
inferior nuchal line
attachments - rectus capitis posterior major and minor muscles
external occipital protuberence
attachments - ligamentum nuchae
superior nuchal line
attachments - trapezius, sternocleidomastoid and splenius capitis muscles