Skull Bones Anatomy Quiz

Study Notes

Skull Bones

The skull comprises 22 bones, joined by sutures.
These bones protect the brain and provide attachment sites for facial and head muscles.
The skull divides into the cranium (braincase) and facial skeleton.
Cranial bones are primarily flat, offering strength and protection.
Facial bones frame the face, contributing to its form.

Cranial Bones

The cranium has eight bones: frontal, parietal (two), temporal (two), occipital, sphenoid, and ethmoid.
The frontal bone forms the forehead and anterior-superior cranium.
The parietal bones form the superior and lateral cranium.
The temporal bones, inferior to the parietal, contain middle and inner ear structures, and form part of the skull base.
The occipital bone forms the posterior and inferior cranium, connecting to the first cervical vertebra.
The sphenoid bone is a complex, bat-shaped bone, part of the skull base and sides, anchored to multiple other bones.
The ethmoid bone is a small, spongy bone contributing to the medial orbit walls and nasal cavity.

Facial Bones

The facial skeleton has 14 bones: nasal (two), maxilla (two), zygomatic (two), lacrimal (two), palatine (two), inferior nasal concha (two), vomer, and mandible.
Nasal bones form the nose bridge.
Maxillae form the upper jaw, impacting the hard palate, orbits, and nasal cavity.
Zygomatic bones form the cheekbones.
Lacrimal bones contribute to the medial orbit walls.
Palatine bones, behind the maxillae, form parts of the hard palate and nasal cavity floor.
Inferior nasal conchae are scroll-like bones in the nasal cavity, increasing air turbulence for better smell.
The vomer forms part of the nasal septum.
The mandible is the only movable skull bone, forming the lower jaw.

Sutures

Sutures are immovable joints uniting cranial bones.
Major sutures include the coronal (frontal and parietal), sagittal (between parietal bones), lambdoid (parietal and occipital), and squamous (parietal and temporal).

Foramina

The skull has numerous foramina (openings).
These openings allow nerves, blood vessels, and other structures to pass between the brain and surrounding regions.
Examples include the foramen magnum for the spinal cord, optic canal for the optic nerve, and superior orbital fissure for various nerves and vessels.

Fontanels

Fontanels are membranous regions between unfused cranial bones in newborns.
These spaces allow for skull compression during birth and brain growth in infancy.
They gradually ossify into sutures.

Important anatomical features of head and neck

The hyoid bone is a U-shaped neck bone supporting the tongue and connected to larynx and pharynx muscles.
The vertebral column is a series of bones (vertebrae) running from the skull to the coccyx (tailbone).
The cervical spine has seven vertebrae, and there are twelve thoracic vertebrae.

Description

Test your knowledge of the human skull and its bones with this quiz! You'll cover the 22 bones of the skull, their functions, and the distinction between cranial and facial structures. Discover interesting facts about the anatomy of the cranium and learn to identify the bones that make up this protective structure.