Skull

DR. PA R V E J
Department of anatomy
 The skull is formed of separate bones (6 single and 8 paired).
 Many of these bones articulate with one another by sutures.
 The skull is studied in six views, each is called norma :
 From in front : Norma frontalis
 From above : Norma verticalis.
 From behind : Norma occipitalis.
 From the side : Norma lateralis.
 From below: Norma basalis externa.
 From inside : Norma basalis interna.
Norma Frontalis
Norma Frontalis:
 Boons :
1. The frontal bone with its maxillary and zygomatic processes.
2. The two nasal bones.
3. The zygomatic bone with its maxillary and frontal processes.
4. The maxilla with its zygomatic, frontal and alveolar processes.
 Apertures :
5. Two orbital apertures.
6. The anterior nasal aperture.
1. Frontal bone
2. Zygomatic bone
1
3. Maxilla
4. Mandible
5. Nasal bone
6. Orbital apertures. 6 5
7. Anterior nasal aperture
2 7

4
[Link] supraciliary arch
[Link] glabella (is a median elevation
between the two superciliary arches)
3. The nasion (The nasion : is the 3
4
meeting point between the frontal
2 1
bone and the two nasal bones)
4. The supraorbital foramen
 Frontal
Max
illar
y pr
oce
ss o
f fron
tal
bon
e Maxilla

Frontal process of Ma
xilla
[Link] process of
frontal bone
2. Zygomatic process
of
frontal bone
[Link] process of
Maxilla
2 1
4. Frontal process of
4
Zygomatic 3
 Maxilla Bone
1. Alveolar process of Maxilla
(The two alveolar processes unite to jaw). form the alveolar arch ( upper
2. Frontal process of Maxilla
3. Zygomatic process of Maxilla
4. Infraorbital foramen

2
3 4
1
5- Palatine process of
maxilla
Number of teeth is 32 in booth jaws
Incisors : 8
Canines : 4
Premolars :8
Molars : 8 Third molars : 4
 Zygomatic Bone
1. Frontal process of Zygomatic bone
2. Maxillary process of Zygomatic bone
3. zygomatico-facial foramen

1
3
2
Norma verticalis
Norma Verticalis :
This view presents :
 4 bones
• Anteriorly : The frontal bone
• Laterally : The two parietal bones
• Posteriorly : The occipital bone
 3 sutures :
The coronal suture : between the frontal bone and the two parietal bones.
The sagittal suture : between the two parietal bones.
The lambdoid suture : between the occipital bone and the two parietal bones.
 Frontal bone

coronal
suture
Bregma

parietal bone parietal bone

sagittal suture

lambda
lambdoid Occipital bone
suture
 2 meeting points :
The bregma :
 Is the meeting of the coronal and sagittal sutures.
 It is the site of the anterior fontanelle

The lambda :
 Is the meeting of the lambdoid and sagittal sutures.
 It is the site of the posterior fontanelle .
 2 Fontanelle :
Anterior fontanelle
 It is a membrane-filled rhomboidal area.
 It usually closes 1.5-2 years after birth.
 It is the site of the bregma

Posterior fontanelle
 It is a membrane-filled triangular area
 It usually closes 3-6 months after birth
 It is the site of the lambda.
Norma Occipitalis
Norma Occipitalis:
Special Features :
•External occipital protuberance: is a median elevation on the occipital bone.
• External occipital crest: extends from the protuberance to the
foramen magnum.
• The superior nucheal lines : extend laterally from the protuberance.
Superior nucheal lines External occipital protuberance
 External
occipital crest
Norma Lateralis
 Parietal Frontal
Greater wing of
sphenoid

Temporal

Zygomatic
Occipital
Maxilla

Mandible
Greater wing of sphenoid

Sphenoid Bone
 Temporal bone
Is composed of 4 parts
1. Squamous
2. Mastoid
3. Tympanic
4. Petrous

3
4 2
 Mastoid
process

Styloid process

Green area is Tympanic part of temporal bone

1. Temporal lines (superior and inferior )
2. Temporal fossa
3. Zygomatic arch 1
4. The External Auditory Meatus
5. Suprameatal triangle 2

6. Infratemporal fossa

3
4 5
5
6
Superior temporal line Inferior temporal line
The Zygomatic Arch (Zygoma):
- It is formed by the temporal process of the zygomatic bone and the zygomatic
process of temporal bone.
It is posterior root passes above the external auditory meatus and
joins the supramastoid crest.
[Link] process of Zygomatic bone
2. Zygomatic process of temporal bone
3. Zygomatic arch
4. Supramastoid crest

3
4
1 2
Tympano- mastoid suture :
It transmit auricular branch of vagus nerve

Zygomaticotemporal foramen : It transmit

zygomaticotemporal nerve

Tympano-
mastoid suture
Suprameatal triangle or Macewen's triangle Boundaries
:
 Superiorly: Supramastoid crest.
 Anterior-inferiorly:

Posterior margin of external auditory meatus.

 Posteriorly:
A tangential line from the Posterior
margin of external auditory meatus to the suprameatal
crest.
Function :
This is an important landmark
For performing a cortical mastoidectomy.

.
Mastoid antrum
is an air space in the petrous portion of the temporal bone, lying posterior to the
middle ear and connected to it .
Function
voice resonance, acoustic insulation and reduce the mass of the cranium.
1- Styloid process
2- Mastoid process

1
2
Pterion
It is H-shaped suture represent the meeting of frontal, parietal, squamous
temporal and the greater wing of the sphenoid bones
It overlies the intracranial course of the frontal branch of the middle
meningeal Artery Pterion
Pterygomaxillary fissure : It connects infratemporal fossa with
Pterygopalatine Fossa

Pterygopalatine
Fossa