Facial Skeleton: Anatomy and Function (Skull Part B 1)

• The overall aim is to cover the Facial Skeleton and tie it in with previous lectures on the Mandible, Muscles of Mastication, and Facial Expression.
• The objective is an understanding of the skull's features and their clinical impact.
• After Parts 1-4, you should be able to name the 14 bones of the Facial Skeleton.
• After Parts 1-4, you should be able to describe the orbit and palatine bones in detail.
• After Parts 1-4, you should be able to label skulls and describe the location and anatomical features of the 3 Intracranial Fossae.
• After Parts 1-4, you should be able to discuss the hyoid bone.
• The skull is made of 2 sections: the Neurocranium (Cranial Bones) and the Viscerocranium (Facial Bones)
• There are 8 cranial bones, and 14 facial bones.

The Viscerocranium – Facial Skeleton

• The facial skeleton protects the brain and houses/protects the sense organs of smell, sight, and taste.
• The facial skeleton provides a frame for soft tissues, facilitating eating, facial expression, breathing, and speech.
• The form your face takes is due to your facial skeleton

The 14 facial bones

• Vomer (1)
• Inferior Nasal Conchae (2)
• Nasal Bones (2)
• Maxillae (2)
• Mandible (1)
• Palatine Bones (2)
• Zygomatic Bones (2)
• Lacrimal Bones (2)

Nasal Bones

• There are 2 slender oblong nasal bones.
• The nasal bones vary in size from person to person.
• The nasal bones form the bridge of the nose.
• The nasal bones articulate with the other nasal bone, frontal bone, maxilla, and ethmoid.

Inferior Nasal Concha

• This is located within the nasal cavity.
• It increases the amount of inspired air that comes into contact with cavity walls, by increasing surface area.
• It articulates with the ethmoid, maxilla, lacrimal, and palatine bones.

Vomer Bone

• This is a thin, singular bone that runs vertically within the nasal cavity.
• It separates the nasal cavities into left and right sides.
• It articulates with the maxilla, ethmoid, sphenoid bones, and palatine.

Lacrimal Bones

• These are the smallest bones of the face.
• They form part of the medial wall of the orbit and provide support for the eyes.
• They are part of the tear duct, involved in crying, where tears drain from the eye.
• The lacrimal bones articulate with frontal, ethmoid, maxilla, and inferior nasal concha.

Maxilla Bones

• These are located at the front section of the face and form the upper jaw.
• The maxilla bones hold the teeth, sides of the nasal cavity, and sections of the eye socket.
• The maxilla bones articulate with the zygomatic, frontal, and palatine.

Zygomatic Bones

• Form the cheek bones and are diamond shaped.
• They contribute to mastication, providing an attachment point for the masseter muscle.
• They articulate with the sphenoid bone, maxilla, frontal bone, and temporal bone.

Mandible Bone

• Forms the lower part of the jaw, and houses the lower set of teeth.
• It is the largest bone in the human skull composed of the mandible body and ramus.
• The mandible articulates with the temporal bone to form the temporomandibular joint (TMJ).

Palatine Bones

• Situated at the back of the nasal cavity and helps form the nasal cavity, eye socket, and hard palate.
• Articulates with six bones: sphenoid, ethmoid, maxilla, inferior nasal concha, vomer and opposite palatine.
• The greater and lesser palatine, are two important foramina that transmit nerves and blood vessels.
• Each palatine bone forms an L-shape, which consists of a horizontal plate and a perpendicular plate.