The Skull

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Main Anatomy Index | The scalp

Last updated 30 March 2006

The Skull

The skull, the skeleton of the head, is the most complex bony structure in the body because it:

  1. Encloses the brain, which is irregular in shape;
  2. Houses the organs of special senses for seeing, hearing, tasting, and smelling; and
  3. Surrounds the openings in to the digestive and respiratory tracts.

 

 

Bones of the Skull

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Bones of the Calvaria

The Frontal Bone (pp. 644-5)

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The Parietal Bones (p. 645)

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The Temporal Bones (p. 645)

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The Sphenoid Bone (pp. 645, 650)

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The Occipital Bone (p. 650)

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Bones of the Face

 

The Nasal Bones (p. 651)

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The Maxillae (p. 651)

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The Mandible (pp. 651, 653-4)

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The Zygomatic Bones (p. 655)

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Other Bones

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Cranial Foramina and Apertures

Anterior Cranial Fossa
Foramina in cribiform plates of the ethmoid bone Axons of olfactory cells
Anterior and posterior ethmoidal foramina Vessels and nerves with the same name
Middle Cranial Fossa
Optic canal Optic nerve and Ophthalmic artery
Superior orbital fissure Ophthalmic vein, Ophthalmic nerve (CN V1), Oculomotor nerve (CN III), Trochlear nerve (CN IV), Abducent nerve (CN VI) and sympathetic fibres.
Foramen rotundum Maxillary nerve (CN V2)
Foramen ovale Mandibular nerve (CN V3), Lesser petrosal nerve
Foramen spinosum Middle meningeal artery and vein, Meningeal branch of mandibular nerve
Foramen lacerum - Click here for a schematic. internal carotid artery
Hiatus of greater petrosal nerve Greater petrosal nerve
Posterior Cranial Fossa
Foramen magnum Medulla and meninges, vertebral arteries, Spinal root of accessory nerve (CN XI)
Jugular foramen Glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX), Vagus nerve (CN X), Accessory nerve (CN XI), Superior bulb of internal jugular vein, Inferior petrosal and sigmoid sinuses
Hypoglossal canal Hypoglossal nerve (CN XII)

 

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Michael Tam (c) 1998