Neurocranium Anatomy revision notes quiz

Study Notes

Neurocranium

Sphenoid Bone (1)
- Irregularly shaped bone located in the middle of the skull.
- Composed of four main parts: body, pterygoid process, greater wing, and lesser wing.
- Articulates with all cranial bones, as well as the palatine, vomer, and zygomatic bones.
- Functions:
  - Contributes to the formation of the skull base, the floor of the middle cranial fossa, the orbital floor, and the nasal cavity.
Temporal Bone (2)
- Irregularly shaped bones situated on the sides of the cranium.
- Articulates with parietal, occipital, frontal, and zygomatic bones.
- Squamosal suture: unites the squamous part of the temporal bone with the parietal bone.
- Functions:
  - Provides attachment points for muscles associated with the tongue and larynx.
  - Contains the styloid process and houses the middle and inner ear structures.
Occipital Bone (1)
- Flat bone located at the back of the cranium.
- Articulates with parietal bones, temporal bones, and sphenoid bone.
- Lambdoid suture: unites with the parietal bones.
- Functions:
  - Forms the foramen magnum (opening for the spinal cord).
  - Provides attachment points for muscles and offers protection.
Ethmoid Bone (1)
- Irregular bone found between the orbital bones and the nasal cavity.
- Lies within the paranasal sinuses.
- Articulates with the frontal, sphenoid, vomer, inferior nasal conchae, nasal, maxilla, palatine, and lacrimal bones.
- Sphenoethmoidal suture: unites with the sphenoid bone.
- Functions:
  - Forms the medial wall of the orbit.
  - Contributes to the nasal septum, the root of the nasal cavity, and its lateral walls.
Frontal Bone (1)
- Flat bone located at the front of the cranium.
- Articulates with parietal, ethmoid, sphenoid, lacrimal, nasal, zygomatic, and maxilla bones.
- Metopic suture (if present): unites two frontal bones.
- Coronal suture: unites with parietal bones.
- Functions:
  - Facilitates facial expressions.
  - Provides structure to the skull, eye orbits, and upper face.
  - Protects the frontal lobe of the brain.
Parietal Bone (2)
- Flat bones forming the top of the cranium.
- Articulate with frontal, occipital, temporal, and sphenoid bones.
- Coronal suture: unites with the frontal bone.
- Sagittal suture: unites the two parietal bones.
- Lambdoid suture: unites with the occipital bone.
- Squamosal suture: unites with the temporal bone.
- Functions:
  - Protect the parietal lobe of the brain and contribute to cranial activities.