Anatomical Sciences

Head & Neck

Skull
Ezzatabadipour Massood
Professor of Anatomy
KMU
2023
 Sphenoid bone
▪ This bone is located in the floor of the neurocranium, behind the horizontal plate of frontal
and cribrosal plate of ethmoid, and in front of the occipital and temporal bones
 It participates in the formation of neurocranium (floor), nasal cavity (roof and lateral wall),
orbit (lateral wall) and temporal, infratemporal and pterygopalatine cavities
 It is composed of a Body (containing the sphenoid sinus), two small wings and two large
wings, and downward process called the Pterygoid process

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 Sphenoid bone (Body)
▪ It is cube-shaped and contains a large air cell
called the sphenoid sinus, which forms the
central part of the bone and the middle cranial
fossa and has upper, lower and anterior sides

➢ The upper surface of the body is saddle-

shaped (Turkish saddle or Sela turcica) and
has a depression called the hypophysial fossa

➢ At the anterior end of the saddle, there is a

horizontal ridge called the Tuberculum Sellae
and at the lateral ends of this ridge there are
two medial clinoid processes

➢ In front of the tuberculum is the Chiasmatic

sulcus, which ends in the optic canal on either
side
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 Sphenoid bone (Body)
➢ In front of the chiasmatic sulcus is Jugum (a place for
seeing the moon), and at the anterior edge is the
ethmoidal spine
➢ The posterior border of the Sella turcica is a
rectangular protrusion called the dorsum sellae, at
the free lateral end of which are the posterior clinoid
processes
The posterior surface of the dorsum sellae,
participates in the formation of the Clivus
➢ On either side of the hypophysial fossa are two
gutters called carotid sulcus
At the posterior end of the outer edge of the carotid
sulcus is lingula
➢ Posterior margin of the carotid sulcus, on the medial
of the lingula, participates in the formation of the
foramen Lacerum (means torn) 4
 Sphenoid bone (Body)
▪ Lower surface of the sphenoid body (in the midline) has Rostrum (is located inside the groove between
the Vomer wings)

▪ The anterior surface of the body contains openings of sphenoid sinus, which opens into spheno-
etmoidal recess in the nasal cavity

▪ The sinus is divided into right and left parts by a thin blade that is inclined to one side

▪ The ant. & inf. walls of the sphenoid sinus are bounded by two bony blades called Sphenoid concha

▪ In the midline, a ridge called sphenoid crest forms at the junction of the two concha's, which
articulates with the posterior margin of the ethmoid vertical plate

▪ The anterolateral corner of the anterior surface

articulates with the back of the lateral masses
and completes the posterior ethmoidal
cells

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 Ala (wing) minor 1
▪ Two horizontal, thin and triangular plates that
protrude from the external anterior angle of the
upper surface of the sphenoid body (has two ant.
& post. borders and two sup. & inf. surfaces)

 The base of the ala minor is connected to the

sphenoid body by two roots and the optic canal
between the two roots for passage of optic nerve
& ophthalmic artery

 The ant. border is dentated and articulates with

the posteror border of the horizontal part of the
frontal bone

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 Ala (wing) minor 2
▪ The posterior border is the boundary between
the anterior and middle cranial cavities

The medial end of the posterior margin

terminates in the anterior clinoid process

 The sup. surface participates in the formation

of the anterior cranial cavity and the inferior
surface participates in the formation of the
posterior part of the roof of the orbit

The superior orbital fissure is located between

the ala minor and major

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 Ala (wing) major 1
▪ From posterior part of the sphenoid body is
protruding outwards and forwards

It has a connected margin to the body and a

peripheral margin (with two anterior and
posterior parts)

Between two parts is a tip that articulates at the

pterion (at parietal`s sphenoid angle)

I. The anterior part of the periphery of the large

wing is rough and triangular, articulated with the
frontal bone

The medial angle of this triangular surface

extends with the lower edge of the superior
orbital fissure

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 Ala (wing) major 2
II. The posterior part of the peripheral border has a
spine and can be divided into three parts:

1) The first part that forms the anterior border of the

lacerum foramen

2) The second part is articulated with the petrosal part

of temporal bone through primary cartilaginous joint
or synchondrosis)

Below this joint is a groove called the sulcus tubae

to accommodate the cartilaginous part of the
Eustachian tube (auditory tube)

3) The third squamousal part, after the spine, is

concave (between spine and pterion) and articulates
with the squamous part of temporal bone

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 Ala major surfaces
▪ The ala major has two surfaces:
I. External surface with two portions: anterior & lateral (lateral portion has two parts: upper & lower)
- Upper part of lateral surface, is located in the floor of temporal fossa and
- Lower part of lateral surface, is located in the roof of infratemporal fossa
 Infratemporal crest is located between forementioned two parts
 Zygomatic margin is a vertical ridge at the anterior end of the temporal surface that articulates with the
zygomatic bone
 The infratemporal part has two foramens, the oval and the spinosum, for the passage of the
mandibular nerves and the lesser petrosal nerve, & accessory meningeal artery & middle meningeal a.
 Behind the foramen spinosum is a protrusion called the sphenoid spine

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 Ala major surfaces
▪ The anterior portions of the external surface can be divided into two parts: orbital & maxillary
1. One quadrangular part is large, concave and smooth and participates in the formation of the
lateral wall of the orbit
 The posterior and inferior borders of this surface participate in the formation of the superior and
inferior orbital fissures
2. An area below the inferior orbital fissure called the maxillary surface participates in the
formation of the posterior wall of the pterygopalatine fossa
 Rotundum foramen opens to this surface for the passage of maxillary nerve and entry into the
pterygopalatine fossa

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 Internal surface of ala major
▪ Or the cerebral surface is hollow and participates in
the formation of the middle cranial fossa
 The temporal lobe of the brain is in contact with this
surface
▪ The surface has three following foramens, (from the
front to back):
 Foramen rotundum, oval, spinosum

 Rotundum foramen for maxillary nerve passage (one

of fifth cranial nerve`s branches) to enter the
pterygopalatine fossa
▪ In addition to these three holes, there may be two
more foramens:
 Foramen Vesalius in 40% of skulls on the medial of
the foramen oval and the innominate or petrosal
foramen, sometimes seen on the medial of the
foramen spinosum 12
 Large wing foramens & elements that pass through them
I. Oval foramen, for the passage of mandibular n. (V3), Lesser petrosal n., accessory
meningeal a. & an emissary vein

II. Spinosum foramen, for the passage of middle meningeal a. & meningeal branch of V3

III. Innominate (Petrosal) foramen: In the presence of this foramen, the lesser petrosal
nerve passes through it (in this case, this nerve does not pass through the oval hole)

IV. Sphenoidal (Vesalius) Foramen: Emissary vein

Maxillary nerve passes through rotundum foramen

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 Pterygoid process
▪ Protrude from body`s inferior surface (at the junction of ala major) toward down
Each process consists of two vertical plates called the medial & lateral pterygoid plates
➢ The anterior margin of the medial and lateral pterygoid palates are connected, but the
lower end of these margins is spaced apart (Pterygoid notch)
Inside this notch is the Pyramidal process of the palatine bone
➢ The posterior margins of the two plates are spaced apart, between them is Pterygoid fossa

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 Pterygoid process
▪ The lower end of the post. margin of the med. plate has a protrusion called the Hamulus
▪ The upper part of the post. margin of the med. Plate has a boat-shaped depression called
the scaphoid fossa (Cruveilhier's fossa)
The upper end of the post. margin of the med. plate has a protrusion called the pterygoid
tubercle Just below the hole of the pterygoid canal
In the middle of the posterior edge of the med. plate is a protruding process called the
Processus tubarius that supports the pharyngeal opening of the Eustachian tube

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 Pterygoid canal
▪ The pterygoid canal is a duct at the base of the pterygoid process (at the junction with the body)
 The posterior opening of this canal is in the anterior wall of the lacrum foramen
 Its anterior opening opens into the posterior wall of the pterygopalatin cavity
▪ The outer surface of the external pterygoid lamina participates in the formation of the medial wall of
the infratemporal cavity
▪ Vaginal process, a small plate sloping inward along the med. lamina to articulate with the vomer wings
 Groove in the upper surface of the vagina process with groove in the lower surface of the vomer wings
participate in the creation of a canal called the Vomerovaginal
 Groove in the lower surface of the vaginal process with the help of groove in the upper surface of the
palatine sphenoid process creates the Palatovaginal canal

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Vomerovaginal & Palatovaginal canal Formation

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 Occipital bone
▪ One of the single bones in the floor of neurocranium

 Behind the occipital & temporal bones and below parietal bone

▪ It consists of 4 parts:

 Squamous, Basilar and lateral masses (Condylar)

 Between them is a big foramen (Foramen magnum)

 Some authors known this bone as a vertebrae because of its resemblance and formation vertebrae

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 Squamous part 1
▪ It is almost rhombic
➢ The upper two borders are articulated with the parietal bones and the lower two borders are articulated
with the temporal mastoid
▪ It has two surfaces, external and internal
➢ In the middle of the external surface, a protrusion called the external occipital protuberance (EOP)
➢ From the protuberance to the foramen magnum is a ridge called the external occipital crest (EOC)

▪ From the upper and middle of the EOC, two lines extend to the side called the superior and
infrared nuchal lines
 Superior nuchal and EOP are the border between the head and neck

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 Squamous part 2
▪ The inner (anterior) surface of the squamous has a central eminence called the internal occipital
protuberance (IOP)
 On either side of the (IOP) are grooves for the transverse venous sinuses
 From the ridge, a ridge extends toward the foramen magnum called the internal occipital crest (IOC)
 The posterior end of the superior sagittal sinus sulcus reaches the upper tip IOP

▪ The inner surface of the squamous has four cavities bounded by the aforementioned gutters, ridges and
ridges
 The two upper fossae are for the brain occipital lobes of the brain and the two lower fossae are for the cerebellar
hemispheres

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 Basilar part
▪ The almost cubic area is located in front of
the foramen magnum and behind the
sphenoid body

➢ With two upper & lower surface

 The upper surface is located in the

anterior part of the posterior cranial cavity
 With the posterior surface of the sphenoid body,
it participates in the formation of Clivus

 On either side of the upper surface are

half-sulcus to accommodate the inf.
petrosal sinuses

▪ Its lower surface participates in the

formation of the pharyngeal roof and
➢ It has a tubercle called the pharyngeal tubercle
to which the pharyngeal raphe connects to the
middle part of the pharyngobasillary fascia
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 Lateral masses
▪ There are two amorphous masses on the
anterior half of the foramen magnum

 Its anterior border (Jugular notch) participates

in the formation of the jugular foramen

 The inter-jugular process is located in the in the

middle of jugular notch

 The upper surface has groove that participate

in the formation of Sigmoid sinus sulcus

 There are two foramen on either side of the

foramen magnum called Hypoglossal canals to
pass through the cranial nerve 12

 Above the hole is a ridge called the Tubercle

jugular

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 Lateral masses
 On the outside of the lateral mass is an process
called the Jugular process

 The lower surface of the lateral mass has a joint

called the Occipital condyle, which is bean-
shaped

 At the posterior end of the condylar process is a

depression called the Condylar fossa, which
may be connected to a canal called the
condylar canal

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 Temporal bone
➢ It is one of the neurocranium paired bones

Which is located on both sides, below the parietal, in front of the occipital and behind the
large sphenoid wing

It participates in the formation of temporal, infratemporal, middle & post. cranial cavities

This bone accommodate three parts of the ear (external, middle and internal)

And participate in the formation of temporomandibular joint (with mandible)

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 Temporal bone
▪ It has four parts:

➢ Styloid, Tympanic, Squamous & Petromastoid

I. Styloid process: which originates from the hyoid bone and is located inside the mastoid process

 Muscles and ligaments attach to it (All of them are called Riolan bouquet)

II. Tympanic part is a gutter-like sheet that forms the anterior, floor, and lower part of the posterior
walls of bony part of the external ear meatus, it has vaginal process (around root of styloid process)

 The medial end of this section has groove for housing the eardrum

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 Squamous part
▪ It is Bony plate in anterior-posterior direction,
above the external ear canal and has two inner
and outer surfaces and two vertical and horizontal
parts

▪ The squamo-mastoid suture (in behind) separates

it from the mastoid process

▪ About 1.5 cm above this suture is a ridge called the

Supramastoid crest (for connecting temporal
fascia)

▪ Between the anterior end of the crest and the

upper posterior quadrant of the external ear canal
is a triangle called the Suprameatal (Mc Ewen),
and 0.5 inch deep, is the mastoid antrum

▪ At the lower edge of this triangle is a small

protrusion called the Suprameatal spine 26
 Squamous part
▪ The Zygomatic process is a protrusion from the
bottom of the vertical part, that its anterior end
forms the zygomatic arch with the temporal process
of the zygomatic bone:

▪ Its posterior end is connected to the lower part of the

squamous part by two anterior and posterior roots:

1. The posterior root extend along the upper border

and passes over the external acoustic meatus which
extends posteriorly with the supramastoid crest

2. The anterior root is horizontal and along the lower

border and is inclined inwards and terminates in the
articular tubercle (it better is seen from below)

 At the junction of the two roots is a bulge called the

tubercle of the zygomatic process
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 Squamous part
▪ The mandibular fossa is a horizontal part formed by the squamous and tympanic parts as
depressions below and medial the root of the zygomatic process which houses the
mandibular head and parotid gland
▪ The mandibular fossa has two articular parts (squamous) and non-articular (tympanic,
containing upper part of the parotid gland)
 The articular portion is separated from the tympanic part by a suture (squamo-tympanic)
▪ A small conical tubercle called the post-glenoid tubercle separates the articular surface on
the outside of the tympanic plate

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 Squamous part
▪ The inf. edge of the Tegmen tympanic (tympanic cavity roof) protrudes through the medial
half of Squaomotympanic suture and divides it into two sutures: 1) petro-squamous and 2)
ptero-tympanic (Glasserian)
Chordatympanic nerve & anterior tympanic artery passes through the Glasserian suture
1) In front of the articular part of the mandibular fossa is a protrusion called the articular
tubercle
2) A small triangular surface in front of the articular tubercle, which participates in the
formation of the infratemporal cavity roof

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 Petromastoid part
➢ It consists of two parts, petrous and mastoid
The petrous part is pyramidal and has three
surfaces: Inferior, anterosuperior and
posterosuperior
Petrous direction is forward and inwards
(from the base to the apex)
The tip of the petrous extends to the
posterior edge of foramen lacrum
In the inferior surface, there is a opening for
passing the carotid a. called carotid canal
Behind the canal is a ridge and on the top of
the ridge is the opening of the tympanic
canaliculi for passing tympanic branch of the
9th cranial n. and enters the tympanic cavity

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 Petromastoid part (inf. Surface)
➢ The medial extension of the fore-
mentioned ridge converts to Fossula
petrosa, at the depth of which is the
opening of the cochlear canaliculi (for
peri-lymphatic aqueduct)

➢ Behind the ridge is a depression called

the jugular fossa, in the depth of which is
the mastoid canaliculi (for passing the
auricular branch of the 10th cranial n.)

The jugular fossa participates in the

formation of the jugular foramen

➢ Stylo-mastoid foramen, between styloid

and mastoid processes (for exiting facial
nerve and entry of stylo-mastoid artery)
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 Antero-superior surface
▪ This surface contains the following features:
1. Trigeminal Impression for housing Trigeminal ganglion (Gasser) in the anterior part
2. Roof of internal acoustic meatus, located behind the trigeminal depression

3. Arcuate eminence, the bulge created by anterior semicircular canal

4. Middle ear Roof (tegmen tympanic ), located medial to squamous part and lateral to arcuate
eminence which extends at the back with the roof of mastoid antrum and at the front with the roof
of the tympanic tensor muscle tunnel
5. There are two foramen over Tegmen tympani and two narrow grooves along them
I. Lateral groove for 9th cranial n. lesser petrosal nerve
(toward foramen oval)
II. Medial groove for 7th cranial n. greater petrosal nerve
(towards foramen lacerum)

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 Postero-superior surface
▪ This surface has the following features:

1) Internal acoustic meatus (IAM), in the

middle of this surface

2) Fossula petrosa, a notch for housing

inf. Ganglion of 9th cranial n.

3) Nail-like slit that has an

opening of endolymphatic vestibular
aqueduct in its depth

4) Sub-arcuate fossa, a shallow

depression is located between IAM & Nail-like slit

➢ Superior border, between anterosuperior and posterosuperior which has a sulcus for:

Superior petrosal venous sinus

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 Petro-mastoid part (mastoid)
❖ This part has the following features:

1) Mastoid process, is a bony protrusion

toward down

Which contains some cells called mastoid

air cells

antrum, a large air cell formed by fusion of

several air cells and connected to the back
of tympanic cavity via aditus

2) Mastoid notch, is an indentation medial

to mastoid process

3) Sulcus for occipital artery, located to

mastoid notch
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Petro-mastoid part
(mastoid)
➢ Sternocleidomastoid muscle attached to lateral
surface of mastoid process

➢ Post. Belly of digastric m. originated from mastoid

notch

➢ Mastoid foramen, a foramen near junction with

occipital bone for passing an emissary vein

➢ Parietal notch, an indentation between post. Part of

squamous & upper border of mastoid part

➢ Sulcus for sigmoid sinus, a groove which located in

internal surface of mastoid part

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