SKULL
It is skeletal framework of the head.
BONES OF SKULL
The skull consists of 22 bones, excluding the ear ossicles.
PAIRED UNPAIRED
Infra nasal conchae Frontal
Parietal Vomer
Temporal Ethmoid
Zygomatic Sphenoid
Maxillary Occipital
Nasal Mandible
Lacrimal
Palatine
DIVISION OF SKULL
There is confusion about exactly what the term skull means. It may mean the cranium
(which includes the mandible) or the part of the cranium excluding the mandible. There
has also been confusion because some people have used the term cranium or only
neurocranium. FICAT has decided to use the Latin term cranium, or the skeleton of the
head.
The skull is divided into 2 parts:(According to gray's anatomy)
1,Cranium which is further divided into:
A, Neurocranium, which consist of two parts:
a,an upper domed part (the calvaria or skull cap), which covers the cranial cavity
containing the brain.
The bones forming the calvaria are mainly the paired parietal bones and temporal bones,
and parts of the unpaired frontal,and occipital bones
b,Basicranium( floor of cranial cavity). The bones forming the base of the cranium are
mainly parts of the sphenoid, temporal, and occipital bones.
B. viscerocranium, the facial [Link] bones forming the facial skeleton are the paired
nasal bones, palatine bones, lacrimal bones, zygomatic bones, maxillae, inferior nasal
conchae and ethmoid and the unpaired vomer.
2,Mandible.
METHODS OF STUDY OF SKULL
The whole skull can be studied from the outside or externally in different views:
a. Superior view or norma verticalis.
b. Posterior view or norma occipitalis.
c. Anterior view or norma frontalis.
d. Lateral view or norma lateralis.
e. Inferior view or norrna basalis.
The whole skull can be studied from the inside or internally after removing the roof of the
calvaria or skullcap:
a. Internal surface of the cranial vault.
b. Internal surface of the cranial base which shows a natural subdivision into anterior, middle
and posterior cranial fossae.
The skull can also be studied as individual bones.
ANATOMICAL POSITION OF SKULL
The skull can be placed in proper orientation by considering any one of the two planes.
1 Reid's base line is a horizontal line obtained by joining the infraorbital margin to the centre of
the external acoustic meatus, i.e. auricular point.
2 The Frankfurt's horizontal plane of orientation is obtained by joining the infraorbital margin
to the upper margin of the external acoustic meatus
SKULL JOINT
The joints in the skull are mostly sutures, a few primary cartilaginous joints and three pairs of
synovial joints. Two pairs of synovial joints are present between the ossicles of middle ear. One
pair is the largest temporomandibular joint. Sutures are:
Plane - internasal suture
Serrate - coronal suture
Denticulate - lambdoid suture
Squamous - parietotemporal suture
INTERIOR OF SKULL
1 The cranium is lined internally by endocranium which is continuous with the pericranium
through the foramina and sutures.
2 The thickness of the cranial vault is variable. The bones covered with muscles, i.e.
temporal and posterior cranial fossae are thinner than those covered with scalp. Further, the
bones are thinner in females than in males, and in children than in adults.
3 Most of the cranial bones consist of:
a. An outer table of compact bone which is thick, resilient and tough.
b. An inner table of compact bone which is thin and
brittle.
c. The diploes which consists of spongy bone filled with red marrow, in between the two tables.
The skull bones derive their blood supply mostly from the meningeal arteries from inside.
Blood supply from the outside is rich in those areas where muscles are attached. The blood
from the diploes is drained by diploic veins on each side draining into venous sinuses
CRANIAL CAVITY
The cranial cavity is the space within the cranium that contains the brain, meninges, proximal
parts of the cranial nerves, blood vessels, and cranial venous sinuses.
ROOF(INTERIOR OF VAULT OF SKULL)
It consists mainly of the frontal bone anteriorly, the paired parietal bones in the middle, and
the occipital bone posteriorly
.
SUTURES
1. The coronal suture, between the frontal and parietal bones
2,the sagittal suture, between the paired parietal bones.
3,the lambdoid suture, between the parietal and occipital bones
JUNCTIONS OF SUTURES
1, Bregma=junction of sagittal and coronal sutures.
2,Lambda=junction of lambdoid and sagittal sutures.
3,Vertex=mid highest point of sagittal suture.
BONY FEATURES OF CALVARIUM( from anterior to posterior)
1,Frontal crest,a midline ridge of bone extending from the surface of the frontal bone, which is
a point of attachment for the falx cerebri.
2,Groove for the superior sagittal sinus, at the termination of frontal crest
3,Granular foveolae,on either side of the groove for the superior sagittal sinus throughout its
course, a small number of depressions and pits, which mark the location of arachnoid
granulations.
4,on the lateral aspects of the roof of the cranial cavity, smaller grooves created by various
meningeal vessels.
FLOOR( INTERNAL SURFACE OF BASICRANIUM)
The floor of the cranial cavity is divided into anterior, middle, and posterior cranial fossae.
ANTERIOR CRANIAL FOSSA(shallowest of all)
.The anterior cranial fossa is above the nasal cavity and the orbits, and it is filled by the frontal
lobes of the cerebral hemispheres.
BOUNDARIES
1,Anteriorly and on the sides, by the frontal bone.
2,Posteriorly, it is separated from the middle cranial fossa by lesser wing of the
sphenoid, the anterior clinoid process, and the anterior margin of the sulcus
chiasmaticus.(limbus of sphenoid)
3, Its floor is composed of
frontal bone (orbital part)
ethmoid bone
two parts of the sphenoid bone, the body (midline) and the lesser wings (laterally).
FORAMINA
FORAMEN STRUCTURE PASSING THROUGH IT
Foramen cecum Emissary veins to nasal cavity
Olfactory foramen in cribriform plate of Olfactory nerves CN I
ethmoid
Posterior ethmoidal canal, posteriorly Vessels and nerves with same name
where cribriform plate meet with the JS
Anterior ethmoidal canal,anteriorly where Vessels and nerves with same name
cribriform plate meet the orbital part of
frontal bone
OTHER FEATURES
1,Frontal crest
2,Crista galli,a prominent wedge of bone projecting superiorly from the ethmoid, another
attachment point of falx cerebri.
3,Cribriform plate of ethmoid,which is sieve like plate.
4,Orbital part of frontal bone which separates orbit from anterior cranial fossa.
5,jugum sphenoidale(JS), anterior part of the superior surface of body of sphenoid, separating
ACF from sphenoidal sinuses.
6,Lesser wings of sphenoid laterally terminate at the junction of frontal and sphenoid greater
wings and medially as anterior clinoid process(attachment point of tentorium cerebelli).
7,Olfactory groove on either sides of crista galli formed by cribriform plate, which supports
olfactory bulb.
.
MIDDLE CRANIAL FOSSA
It is deeper than the anterior cranial fossa, and is shaped like a butterfly, being narrow and
shallow in the middle; and wide and deep on each [Link] accommodates the pituitary gland
and two lateral parts accommodating the temporal lobes of the brain
BOUNDARIES
Anterior
1 Posterior border of the lesser wing of the sphenoid.
2 Anterior clinoid process.
3 Anterior margin of the sulcus chiasmaticus.(limbus of sphenoid).
Posterior
1 Superior border of petrous temporal bone.
2 The dorsum sellae of the sphenoid.
Lateral
1 Greater wing of the sphenoid.
2 The squamous temporal bone.
3. Sphenoidale angle of parietal bone.
Its floor is formed by
1,body of sphenoid in the median region
2, by greater wing of sphenoid, squamous temporal and petrous temporal on each side.
FORAMINA
FORAMEN STRUCTURE PASSING THROUGH IT
Optic canal(lesser wing) Optic nerve CN II and ophthalmic artery
Superior orbital fissure(lesser and greater Oculomotor nerve [III]; trochlear nerve
wings) [IV]; ophthalmic division of the trigeminal
nerve [V1]; abducent nerve [VI];
ophthalmic veins
Foramen rotundum(greater wing) Maxillary division of the trigeminal nerve
[V2].
Foramen ovale (greater wing) Otic ganglia, Mandibular division of the
trigeminal nerve [V3], Accessory
meningeal artery,Lesser petrosal nerve
and Emissary vein.(OVALE)
Foramen spinosum (greater wing) Middle meningeal artery and vein and
meningeal branch of CN V3(mandibular
branch)
Foramen lacerum (filled with cartilage in life)some
meningeal arterial branches and small
veins are transmitted vertically through
the cartilage, completely traversing this
foramen
Internal opening of Carotid canal Internal carotid artery
Emissary sphenoidal foramen or foramen emissary vein
of Vesalius.(greater wing)
Hiatus for greater petrosal nerve (petrous Greater petrosal nerve
temporal bone)
Hiatus for lesser petrosal nerve (petrous Lesser petrosal nerve
temporal bone)
OTHER FEATURES
MEDIAN REGION
1,Sulcus chiasmaticus or optic groove leads, on each side, to the optic [Link] does not
carry optic [Link] anterior boundary is formed by a ridge called limbus of sphenoid.
2,Sella turcica which consists of
a,Tuberculum sellae on the front,separating ST from optic [Link] clinoid
processes arise from it.
b,hypophyseal fossa which accommodates pituitary gland.
c,dorsum sellae posteriorly. Posterior clinoid processes arise from it.
LATERAL REGION
1,Trigeminal impression which accommodates sensory ganglion for CN V in anterior surface
of petrous part of temporal bone.
2,Arcuate eminence which is due to anterior semi circular canal. in anterior surface of petrous
part of temporal bone.
3,Tegmen tympani,which marks the thin bony roof of the middle ear cavity. in anterior surface
of petrous part of temporal bone.
4,Squamous part of temporal bone shows impression for temporal lobe.
POSTERIOR CRANIAL FOSSA
The posterior cranial fossa consists mostly of parts of the temporal and occipital bones, with
small contributions from the sphenoid and parietal bones .
It is the largest and deepest of the three cranial fossae and contains the brainstem
(midbrain, pons, and medulla) and the cerebellum.
BOUNDARIES
Anterior
1 The superior border of the petrous temporal bone.
2 The dorsum sellae of the sphenoid bone.
Posterior
Squamous part of the occipital bone.
Laterally
1 Mastoid part of the temporal bone.
2 The mastoid angle of the parietal bone.
Floor
1,condylar part, squamous part ant basilar part of occipital bone
2,mastoid part of temporal bone.
FORAMINA
FORAMINA STRUCTURES PASSING THROUGH IT
FORAMEN MAGNUM. It is surrounded by 1Spinal cord and meninges
the basilar part of the occipital bone 2Vertebral arteries
anteriorly, the condylar part of the occipital 3Roots of the accessory nerve [XI] pass
bone on either side, and the squamous part from the upper region of spinal cord through
of the occipital bone posteriorly the foramen magnum into the cranial cavity
and then leave the cranial cavity through the
jugular foramen.
4,anterior and posterior spinal arteries
5,dural veins
HYPOGLOSSAL CANAL OR ANTERIOR • [XII] Hypoglossal nerve
CONDYLAR CANAL
CONDYLAR CANAL OR POSTERIOR Emissary vein to vertebral vein from
CONDYLAR CANAL. sigmoid sinus
INTERNAL ACOUSTIC MEATUS . It is [VII] Facial nerve, [VIII] Vestibulocochlear
closed laterally by a perforated plate of bone nerve ,Labyrinthine artery and vein
known as lamina cribrosa and it opens into
facial canal.
ORIFICE OF AQUEDUCT OF VESTIBULE Aqueduct of vestibule(prolongation of
membranous labyrinth)
JUGULAR FORAMEN • [IX] Glossopharyngeal nerve
• [X] Vagus nerve
• [XI] Accessory nerve
• Internal jugular vein(superior bulb,initial
dilations)which is formed by sigmoid
sinus
OTHER FEATURES
1,Clivus,it is the sloping surface in front of the foramen magnum. It is formed by fusion of the
body of the sphenoid with the basilar part of the occipital bone or basiocciput. It is related to
the basilar plexus of veins.
2,Internal occipital protuberence, which is related to confluence of [Link] is present on
internal surface of squamous part of occipital bone
3,Transverse sulcus, which runs laterally from the internal occipital protuberance to the
mastoid angle of the parietal bone where it becomes continuous with the sigmoid sulcus. The
transverse sulcus lodges the transverse sinus. The right transverse sulcus is usually wider
than the left and is continuous medially with the superior sagittal sulcus.
4,The internal occipital crest runs in the median plane from the internal occipital protuberance
to the foramen magnum where it forms a shallow depression, the vermian fossa..It gives
attachment to falx cerebelli.
5. Cerebellar fossae are present on each side of internal occipital crest, which lodges
cerebellum.
6. The groove for inferior petrosal sinus is present on each side of clivius where
petrooccipital fissure is [Link] groove is continuous with jugular foramen.
7. jugular tubercle lies over the occipital condyle.
8. subarcuate fossa, present on petrous part of temporal bone which lodges the flocculus
of the cerebellum.
9. sigmoid sulcus which is present on mastoid part of temporal bone and houses sigmoid
sinus which when passes jugular foramen becomes internal jugular [Link] foramen
open into the upper part of the sulcus, which carries mastoid emissary vein from sigmoid sinus
and meningeal branch of occipital artery.