Anatomy of the Face

Anatomy of the Face, Ear, and Mouth

• The inferior orbital fissure is an opening within each orbit formed by the maxillae and sphenoid bone.
• The infraorbital foramen is an opening under each orbit for the passage of infraorbital nerves and vessels.
• The alveolar margin is the oral margin of the maxillae that contains the upper teeth.
• The nose includes the external nose and nasal cavity and functions in smell, humidification, respiration, filtration, reception, and eliminating secretions through paranasal sinuses and nasolacrimal ducts.
• The external nose consists of cartilage and skin, with nerve supply from the trigeminal nerve (CNV1).
• The nasal cavities are divided by the nasal septum and lined with mucous membrane, featuring three projecting conchae (turbinates) for air cleansing and temperature control.
• Paranasal sinuses, including the ethmoid, sphenoid, frontal, and maxillary sinuses, lighten the weight of the skull and are palpable during physical exams.
• Olfaction involves the olfactory epithelium, olfactory nerves (CNI), bulbs, and tract, contributing to the sense of smell in the cerebrum.
• The ear is responsible for hearing and equilibrium and comprises the external, middle, and inner parts.
• The external ear consists of the auricle, external acoustic meatus, and tympanic membrane, while the middle ear amplifies sound and includes the auditory ossicles and the pharyngotympanic (Eustachian) tube for pressure equalization.
• The inner ear consists of the bony and membranous labyrinths, serving acoustic and vestibular functions for equilibrium.
• The lips and mouth are controlled by a series of muscles, with the oral cavity lined with mucous membrane and featuring openings for salivary gland ducts, innervated by the trigeminal nerve (CN V).