A Skull Quiz

Answer: Zygomatic bone

The face consist of two zygomatic bones, each with a zygomatic arch that is more commonly known as the cheek bone. The zygomatic bones articulate with (join to) the maxillae, sphenoid and frontal and temporal bones.

Answer: Vomer

The vomer forms the inferior portion of the nasal septum, whilst the ethmoid forms the superior part. The maxillae form part of the nasal cavity and contain the anterior nasal spine, but do not form part of the septum. The sphenoid forms part of the cranial floor whilst also serving to connect facial and cranial bones.

Answer: Sagittal suture

Like the name suggests, the sagittal suture runs along the sagittal plane, starting from the anterior edge of the occipital bone and ending at the posterior edge of the frontal bone.

The coronal suture runs along the coronal plane, between the frontal bone and the parietal bones. The lamboid suture separates the occipital bone from the parietal bones whilst the squamosal suture mainly runs between the temporal bones and the parietal bones.

Answer: Occipital bone

The foramen magnum is the largest foramen in the skull and is found on the occipital bone. It serves to connect the cranial cavity to the vertebral canal.

Several other foramina can be found in the skull, with several in the sphenoid. These are the foramen rotundum, foramen lacerum, foramen ovale and foramen spinosum.

Answer: Mental foramen

The mental nerve and the sensory branch of the mandibular nerve pass through this foramen. The mandibular foramen also contains part of the mandibular nerve, among other neural tissue, and is also found on the mandible. The styloid processes and the carotid canal are both found on the temporal bone.

Answer: Three

Inside the nasal cavity are the superior, middle and inferior nasal concha. The superior and middle nasal concha are part of the ethmoid, whilst the inferior nasal concha is on its own separate bone. When looking at a complete skull, the superior nasal concha cannot be seen.

Answer: Occipital condyles

The occipital condyles are found on the inferior of the skull, on the occipital bone. The styloid processes are found on the temporal bone and connect to ligaments and muscles associated with the hyoid bone, tongue and pharynx. The jugular foramen houses the internal jugular vein and is situated between the occipital bone and the temporal bone.

The occipital protuberance is a bump on the posterior side of the skull, found on the occipital bone.

Answer: Maxillae and palatine bones

The maxillae make up the anterior of the bony palate, whilst the palatine bones make up the posterior. Both the maxillae and the palatine bones are double bones.

Answer: Sphenoid

The pterygoid processes project on either side of the sphenoid body, each forming a pair of pterygoid plates. These serve to attach muscles for movement of the mandible and soft palate, such as the lateral and medial pterygoid muscles.

The masseter is in fact not a bone, but a muscle that originates at the zygomatic arch and inserts into the mandible. Along with the pterygoid muscles and the temporalis muscle, it is one of the most important muscles in mastication.

Answer: Anterior fontanelle

Fontanelles are spaces between cranial bones found in infants, which allow the brain to grow. As an individual ages, these areas become ossified and bones fuse together. The anterior fontanelle is the area which is often known as the 'soft spot' in young infants.