Neurocranium Anatomy revision notes quiz

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.