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Feature on bone Structures associated
FRONTAL BONE
External features
Glabella
Supraorbital margin
Supraorbital foramen Supraorbital nerve and artery
Zygomatic process
Nasal spine
Internal features
Orbital plate
PARIETAL BONES
Superior and inferior temporal lines Insertion for temporalis
muscle
Emissary foramina Emissary veins pass through
Sagittal suture Joins the two parietal bones
OCCIPITAL BONE
External features
Foramen magnum Spinal cord passes through
Occipital condyles Articulates with superior articular process
of C1Hypoglossal canal Hypoglossal nerve (CNXII) passes through
External occipital protruberance
Jugular foramen Fusion of 3 foramina
Internal jugular vein, glossopharyngeal nerve (CN
IX), vagus nerve (CNX), accessory nerve (CNXI)
pass through
Jugular process
Internal features
Groove for superior sagittal sinus Blood sinus sits in groove
that travels from
anterior to posterior
Groove for transverse sinus Blood sinus sits in groove that
travels from left to
right
Groove for sigmoid sinus Blood sinus sits in groove that is on
posterior
side near condylar canal
Internal occipital protuberance Where the grooves for transverse
and sagittal
sinus meet (corresponds to external occipital
protuberance)
Basilar part of occipital bone
Condylar canal Emissary structure for veins to pass through
ZYGOMATIC BONES
Frontal process Connects to frontal bone at
fronto-zygomaticsuture
Maxillary process Connects to maxilla at
zygomatico-maxillary
suture
Temporal process Connects to temporal bone at zygomatico-
temporal suture
Zygomatic arch: zygomatic and temporal bone
ETHMOID BONE
Crista galli
Cribiform plate Olfactory nerves (CNI) passes through
Ethmoid air cells/sinus
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Superior nasal concha
Middle nasal concha
Perpendicular plate
Orbital surface Forms medial wall of orbit
SPHENOID BONE
External features
Hypophyseal fossa of sella turcica Pituitary gland sits in
it
Medial and lateral pterygoid plate
Pterygoid fossa
Pterygoid hamulus
Superior orbital fissure Oculomotor nerve (CNIII), trochlea
nerve (CNIV),
abducens nerve (CNVI) passes through
inferior orbital fissure
Foramen ovale Mandibular nerve passes through (branch of
trigeminal nerve (CNV))
Foramen spinosum Middle meningeal artery passes through
Foramen lacerum Irregular foramen covered by a cartilage
plug
Emissary veins pass through
Internal features
Foramen rotundum Maxillary nerve passes through (branch of
trigeminal nerve (CNV))
Optic canal Optic nerve (CNII) passes through
TEMPORAL BONES
External features
Squamous part
Tympanic part
Zygomatic process Connects to zygomatic bone at
zygomatico-temporal suture
Mastoid process Location for attachment of many muscles
Digastric notch Attachment for digastric muscle
Styloid process Attachment of tongue and neck muscles
Stylomastoid foramen Facial nerve (CNVII) passes through
Mandibular fossa Where the mandibular condyles articulate
Petrotympanic fissure Chorda tympani of the mandibular nerve
passes
through which joins with lingual nerve for taste
sensation
Articular eminence Prevents dislocation of TMJ
Articular tubercle
External auditory meatus
Carotid canal Internal carotid artery passes through
Temporal fossa
Internal features
Squamous part
Petrous part
Internal auditory meatus Vestibulocochlear nerve (CNVIII) passes
through
Jugular foramen Fusion of 3 foramina
Internal jugular vein, glossopharyngeal nerve (CN
IX), vagus nerve (CNX), accessory nerve (CNXI)
pass through
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Carotid canal Internal carotid artery passes through
Sulcus for sigmoid sinus Blood sinus which sits in the
sulcus
MAXILLAE
Frontal process Articulates with frontal bone
(frontomaxillary
suture)
Zygomatic process Articulates with zygomatic bone
(zygomaticomaxillary suture)
Alveolar process Contains sockets of the teeth
Incisive fossa/foramen Incisive nerve passes to supply palatal
surface of
anterior teeth
Canine fossa
Canine eminence Due to the thick roots of canine
Anterior nasal spine
Infraorbital canal and foramen Maxillary nerve passes
throughcalled
infraorbital nerve
Infraorbital artery passes through
Infraorbital groove Where maxillary nerve exits as posterior
superior
alveolar nerve
Frontal sinus
Maxillary sinus
Nasolacrimal groove
Palatine process
Intermaxillary suture Where the 2 maxillae meet
Maxillary tuberosity Important for retention of dentures
PALATINE BONE
Perpendicular plate
Horizontal platePyramidal process
Orbital process
Sphenoidal process
Palatomaxillary suture Where palatine bones meet maxillae
Greater palatine foramen Greater palatine nerve and blood
vessels pass
through
Lesser palatine foramen Lesser palatine nerve and blood vessels
pass
through
Incisive canal
MANDIBLE
External features
Mandibular condyle Attaches to temporal bone at the TMJ
Ramus
Mandibular angle
Coronoid process For muscle attachment
Mandibular/sigmoid/condylar notch
Mental foramen Where mental nerve and artery leave to supply
the chin
Mental protuberance
Mental tubercle Elevations on either side of mental
protuberance
Alveolar process Holds sockets of the teethExternal oblique
line/ridge Creates a thicker buccal cortical plate for lower 7
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and 8
Important for retention of dentures
Groove for facial artery
Internal features
Lingula Covers the opening of mandibular canal by
attachment of sphenomandibular ligamentMandibular foramen
Opening of mandibular canal where inferior
alveolar branch of mandibular nerve passes
Mylohyoid ridge Attachment of mylohyoid muscle
Submandibular fossa Location of submandibular salivary gland
Sublingual fossa Location of sublingual salivary gland
Genial tubercles/mental ossicles 4 bony prominences on the
lingual side near the
midline
