AXIAL SKELETON

Dr. Kalim Raza.

Assistant Professor

Department of Human Anatomy

Samarkand State Medical University
 Axial skeleton
– Functions
• Protect (brain, spinal cord, and organs in ventral cavity)
• Permit limited movement but strong and reinforced with ligaments
• Provide attachment for muscles;
1. Adjust positions of head, neck, and trunk
2. Perform respiratory movements
3. Stabilize or position parts of appendicular skeleton that supportlimbs
Bones of the Axial Skeleton
22 bones that form the skull, and the seven bones associated with the skull

SKULL

FACE 14 CRANIUM 8 ASSOCIATEDBONES 7

Maxillary bone 2 Occipital bone 1
Palatine bones 2 Parietal bones 2
Frontal bone 1
Nasal bones 2
Temporal bones 2 Hyoid bone 1 Auditory ossicles
Inferior nasal 2 enclosed in temporal 6
conchae Sphenoid 1 bones
Zygomatic bones 2 Ethmoid 1
Lacrimal bones 2
Vomer 1
Mandible 1
 SKULL
• Joints (Articulations)
– Where two bones interconnect
– Called sutures in the skull
• Immovable
• Bones tied together with dense fibrous connective tissue
• Four major sutures
1. Coronal (frontal to parietal bones)
Calvaria (skull cap formed by frontal, parietal, and occipital bones)
2. Squamous (temporal to parietal bones)
3. Sagittal (between parietal bones)
4. Lambdoid (occipital to parietal bones)
Paranasal Sinuses

• Paired cavities near nasal

cavity
• Located in the frontal bone,
sphenoid bone, ethmoid bone,
and maxillae
• Lined with mucous
membranes
 SKULL
• Cranium: Consists of 8 bones • Face: Consists of 14bones
– (1) Frontal Bone – (2) Maxilla
– (2) Temporal Bones – (2) Zygomatic bones
– (2) Parietal Bones – (2) Lacrimal bones
– (1) Occipital Bone – (2) Palatine bones
– (1) Sphenoid Bone – (2) Nasal bones
– (1) Ethmoid Bone – (2) Inferior nasal conchae
– (1)Vomer
– (1)Mandible
Bones of the Cranium
Frontal Bone
 Frontal Bone
• The large bone that makes up the forehead and supplies the upper edge and roof
of the orbit (eye socket).
• The frontal bone articulates (comes together) with a number of other bones
including the parietal, nasal, ethmoid, maxillary, and zygomatic bones.
• Landmarks:
– Squama: Flat portion that forms the forehead
– Supraorbital margin: Ridge under the eyebrow, forming the upper part of
the orbit (eyesocket)
– Supraorbital foramen: Small hole within supraorbital margin for blood
vessels and nerves
– Frontal sinuses: Hollow spaces behind the squama, act as sound
chambers to give the voice resonance.
Frontal Bone (Anterior View) (Blue Coloured Bone)
Frontal Bone (Lateral View) (Blue Coloured Bone)
Temporal Bones
 Temporal Bones
• A large irregular bone situated at the base and side of the skull. Temporal bone is
connected with the mandible (the jaw bone) via the temporomandibular (TM)joint.
• The temporal bone is formed of three parts (squamous, tympanic and petrous)
that are distinct at birth but then fuse. The petrous portion of the temporal bone
contains the structures of the inner ear.
• Landmarks:
– Squama: Flat portion of the temporal bone forming the anterior and superior part
of the temple
– Zygomatic process: Process forming part of the cheek
– Petrous portion: Internal, forming part of the floor of the cranium. Contains the
ear canal and internal ear structures.
– Mandibular fossa: Socket between squama and petrous portion, articulates with
the condyle of the mandible(TMJ)
– External auditory meatus: Opening to the ear canal
– Mastoid process: Bony prominence behind the external auditory meatus
– Styloid process: Looks like an elephant’s tusk located between the mastoid
process and the jaw. Acts as a point of attachment for muscles and ligaments.
Temporal Bone (Lateral View) (Purple Coloured Bone)
 Parietal Bones
• The main bone on the side of
the skull.
• The word "parietal" comes
from the Latin "parietalis"
meaning "belonging to the
wall."
• It articulates (joins) with the
other parietal bone in the
midline (top of the head), with
the frontal bone in front of it,
with the occipital bone behind
it, and with the sphenoid and
temporal bones lower down on
the side of the skull.
Parietal Bone (Lateral View) (Red Coloured Bone)
Occiput
 Occiput
• From the Latin, meaning the part of the head opposite the front.
• The bone that forms the rear and the rear bottom of the skull.
• The occipital bone articulates (joins) with the parietal and temporal bones of the
skull, the sphenoid bone in front of it, and the first cervical vertebra (the atlas)
beneath it.
• Landmarks:
– Foramen magnum: large hole, allowing passage of the spinal cord
– External occipital protuberance (EOP): prominent projection on
back of occiput
– Nuchal lines:A superior and inferior line running laterally from the
midline, serve as a point of muscle attachment
Occipital Bone (Posterior View) (Orange Coloured Bone)
Occipital Bone (Lateral View) (Orange Bone)
Sphenoid Bone
 Sphenoid Bone
• A prominent, irregular, wedge-shaped bone at the base of the skull. The
sphenoid bone has been called the "keystone" of the cranial floor since it is in
contact with all of the other cranial bones.
• The Greek physician Galan wrote that the sphenoid bone was "like a wedge
thrust between the skull and the superior maxilla."
• Landmarks
– Greater wings: Large lateral projections of bone that help to form the
lateral border of the skull
– Lesser wings: Smaller lateral projections of bone above the greater
wings
– Pterygoid processes: Two long downward projections from the
greater wings that act as a point of muscle attachment.
– Sella turcica: Known as the Turkish Saddle which cradles the
pituitary gland.
Sphenoid Bone (Lateral View) (Green Coloured Bone)
Sphenoid Bone (Floor of Cranium) (Green Coloured Bone)
 Ethmoid Bone
• An irregularly shaped, spongy bone that provides the floor of the front part of
the skull and the roof of the nasal cavity.
• The ethmoid consists of two masses of thin plates enclosing air cells and
looks like a sieve.
• Landmarks:
– Lateral masses: Form most of the wall between the nasal cavity and the
orbits.
– Perpendicular plate: Forms the superior portion of the nasal septum
– Cribiform plate: Forms the roof of the nasal cavity
– Olfactory foramina: Small holes within the cribiform plate for passage of
the first cranial nerve (forsmell)
– Crista galli: Upward extension of bone above the cribiform plate, acts as
an anchoring point for one of the coverings of the brain.
– Nasal concha (turbinates): Two scroll-shaped projections with a mucus
membrane on either side of the nasal septum. Function to cause air
turbulence and trap inhaled particles.
Bones of the Face
Maxilla
 Maxilla
• The largest bones of the face, except for the mandible and form, by their
union, the whole of the upper jaw.
• They hold the upper teeth, and connect on the left and right to the
zygomatic bones (cheekbones).
• Each assists in forming the boundaries of three cavities, namely, the roof of
the mouth, the floor and lateral wall of the nose, and the floor of the orbit.
• Landmarks:
– Infra Orbital foramen: Hole below the orbit, for blood vessels and
nerves
– Alveolar process: Arch of the maxilla containing the upper teeth
– Palatine process: horizontal projection of themaxilla forming the
anterior ¾ of the hard palate.
Maxilla (Anterior View) (Yellow Coloured Bones)
 Zygomatic Bones
Commonly referred to as the
cheekbone.

It is situated at the upper and

lateral part of the face: it forms the
prominence of the cheek and part
of the lateral wall and floor of the
orbit.

It articulates with the

zygomatic arch of the
temporal bone.
Zygomatic Bones (Anterior View) (Pink Coloured Bones)
 Lacrimal Bones
Smallest and most fragile
bone of the face, is Lacrimal bone
situated at the front part of
the Medial of the orbit.
Contains the lacrimal sac
and the naso-lacrimal duct.
Lacrimal Bones (Anterior View) (Blue Coloured Bones below frontal bone)
 Palatine bones

It contributes to the walls of

three cavities: the floor and
lateral wall of the nasal
cavity, the roof of the mouth,
and the floor of the orbit
 Nasal Bones
Varying in size and form in
different individuals

They are placed side by side at the

middle and upper part of the face
and form, by their junction, "the
bridge" of the nose.
Nasal Bones (Anterior View) (Bridge of the nose, below frontal bone)
 Inferior Nasal Conchae

Extends horizontally along

the lateral wall of the nasal
cavity and consists of a
lamina of spongy bone,
curled upon itself like a
scroll.
Inferior Nasal Conchae (Anterior View) (Inside nasal cavity on lateral walls)
 Vomer

One of the unpaired facial bones

of the skull.
Located in
the midsagittal line,
and touches the sphenoid, the
ethmoid, the left and right palatine
bones, and the left and right
maxillary bones.
Vomer (Anterior View) (Centre wall in nasal cavity)
 Mandible
Largest and strongest bone of the
face.
Forms the lower jaw and holds the lower
teeth in place.
The mandible consists of a curved,
horizontal portion, the body, and two
perpendicular portions, the rami, which
unite with the ends of the body nearly at
right angles.
 Mandible
• Largest and strongest bone of the face.
• Forms the lower jaw and holds the lower teeth inplace.
• Landmarks:
– Body: Curved horizontal portion of the mandible
– Rami: Two upward projections of bone that are perpendicular to the body
of the mandible.
– Angle of the mandible: Angle formed where the body meets the ramus
– Condylar process: A condyle on the posterior portion of theramus that
articulates with the mandibular fossa of the temporal bone.
– Coronoid process: A sharp projection of bone on the anterior portion of the
ramus that acts as a point of muscle attachment.
– Alveolar process: Arch of bone containing the lower teeth
– Mental foramen: Small hole on the side of the body for blood vessels and
nerves.
Mandible (Anterior View) (Lower Jaw)
Mandible (Lateral View) (Lower Jaw)
 Palpation of the Cranium
Occiput: Prone; place hands on the back of the head between partner’s ears. Slide
your fingers superiorly to the External Occipital Protuberance (EOP) two to three
inches. Then slide fingers laterally to the mastoid process behind the ears.
Superior Nuchal Lines: Prone or supine; locate the EOP and then slide your
fingers laterally moving your finger pads up and down feeling for the edge of
the superior nuchal line.
Parietal Bone: Prone or supine; place both hands on the top of the cranium. Palpate
the sagittal suture between the parietals. From the suture, palpate the parietal bones
down towards the ears
Temporal Bone: Supine; locate the mastoid process by placing your fingers behind the
ear lobe. The zygomatic arch can be palpated by placing your fingers anterior to the
external auditory meatus. Palpate anteriorly along the arch with your finger and
thumb. The flat squamous portion can be palpated superior to the mastoids and
external auditory meatus. The styloid process can be palpated between the mandible
and the mastoid process (palpate verygently)
Frontal bone: Supine; palpate the region of the forehead from the eyebrows up
toward the coronal sutures
Mandible: Supine: place your fingers inferior to the bottom teeth and palpate the body
of the mandible. Move inferiorly and palpate the base of the mandible from the
chin to the angle of the mandible. Then curl your fingertips underneath the edge to
palpate the submandibular fossa. To palpate the angle of the mandible slide
posterior alone the base of the mandible. The angle is located between the body
and the ramus. To palpate the mandibular condyle, place your finger anterior to the
ear canal and below the zygomatic arch. Ask your partner to open his/her mouth
fully, the condyle will protrude laterally and become morepalpable.
Nasal bones: Supine; locate the bridge of the nose
Zygomatic bone: Supine, return to the zygomatic arch of the temporal bone and
continue to move anteriorly until you reach the zygomatic (cheek) bone.
Maxilla: Supine; palpate inferior to the zygomatic bone down to the mouth. The
maxilla forms the center of the face. The alveolar processes can also be palpated
where the teeth insert into the maxilla.
Skull and Foramina
 Foramina
A foramen is an opening inside the body that allows key structures to connect
one part of the body to another. The skull bones that contain foramina are:
• Frontal
• Ethmoid
• Sphenoid
• Maxilla
• Palatine
• Temporal
• Occipital

There are 21 foramina in human skull.

Top view Back view
 Cranial foramina
• The human skull has numerous holes (foramina) through which cranial nerves,
arteries, veins and other structures pass.
 Cranial foramina
• Frontal bone -supraorbital foramen
1. supraorbital artery,
2. supraorbital vein
3. supraorbital nerve
• foramen cecum
1. emissary veins to superior sagittal sinus
 Cranial foramina
• Ethmoid bone -foramina of cribriform plate ;
1. olfactory nerve bundles (I)
• anterior ethmoidal foramen
1. anterior ethmoidal artery
2. anterior ethmoidal vein
3. anterior ethmoidal nerve
• posterior ethmoidal foramen
1. posterior ethmoidal artery
2. posterior ethmoidal vein
3. posterior ethmoidal nerve
 Cranial foramina
• Optic canal
1. Ophthalmic artery optic nerve (II)
• superior orbital fissure
1. superior ophthalmic vein
2. oculomotor nerve (III)
3. trochlear nerve (IV)
4. lacrimal, frontal and nasociliary branches of
ophthalmic nerve (V1)
5.abducent nerve (VI) sphenoid middle cranial fossa foramen
rotundum -maxillary nerve (V2) maxilla
 Cranial foramina
• Incisive foramen/incisive canal
1. sphenopalatine artery
2. nasopalatine nerve(V2) palatine
• greater palatine foramen
1. greater palatine artery
2. greater palatine vein
3. greater palatine nerve palatine
• lesser palatine foramina
1. lesser palatine artery
2. lesser palatine vein
3. lesser palatine nerve sphenoid and maxilla
 Cranial foramina
• Inferior orbital fissure
1. inferior ophthalmic veins
2. infraorbital artery
3. infraorbital vein
4. zygomatic nerve and infraorbital nerve of maxillary nerve
(V2)
orbital branches of pterygopalatine ganglion
• Infraorbital foramen
1. infraorbital artery
2. infraorbital vein
3. infraorbital nerve
 Cranial foramina
• foramen ovale
1. mandibular nerve
2. accessory meningeal artery (V3)
3. lesser petrosal nerve (occasionally)
• foramen spinosum
1. middle meningeal artery
2. meningeal branch of the mandibular nerve (V3)
• foramen lacerum
1. artery of pterygoid canal
2. nerve of pterygoid canal
 Cranial foramina
• Internal acoustic meatus
1. labyrinthine artery
2. facial nerve (VII),
3. vestibulocochlear nerve (VIII)
• Jugular foramen
1. internal jugular vein,
2. inferior petrosal sinus,
3. sigmoid sinus
4. glossopharyngeal nerve (IX),
5. vagus nerve (X),
6. accessory nerve (XI)
 Cranial foramina
• Hypoglossal canal –
• 1. hypoglossal nerve (XII)
• Foramen magnum
1. anterior and posterior spinal arteries,
2. vertebral arteries
3. medulla oblongata,
4. ascending spinal fibers of accessory nerve (XI)
• Stylomastoid foramen
• 1. stylomastoid artery facial nerve (VII)