Craniology

Dian Retno Utari, DDS.

The Skull
The skull is divided into
two parts:
Neurocranium- which forms a
protective case or vault
around the brain
Splachnocranium- which
forms the anterior part of the
skull including the orbits, nasal
cavities and upper/lower jaw
bones
Viscerocranium

Neurocranium

Cranium
Frontal

Sphenoid

coronal suture
Parietal

Occipital
Temporal

cranium
Lacrimal
Zygomatic

Nasal

Inferior
Nasal
conchae

Vomer
Vomer

maxilla

Mandible

Mandible

Frontal Bone
Frontal
bone

Nasion

- Fontal bone forms the roof of the orbit

- Nasion is an area where the frontal bone
intersects with the nasal bones
- Glabella- smooth, slightly depressed
area located just superior to the nasion

Glabella

Frontal Bone
Supraorbital margin- marks the
boundary between the squamous and
orbital portions

Supraorbital
notch

Superciliary
arch

Supraorbital notch or foramen is for the

passage of the supraorbital nerve and
vessels
A prominent ridge just superior to the
supraorbital margin is the superciliary
arch (more pronounced in males)
Zygomatic process of the frontal bone
articulates with the zygomatic bone

Zygomatic
process

Supraorbital
margin

Zygomatic Bones

Frontal Process
of the zygomatic bone articulates
with the frontal bone

Frontal
process

Temporal process
of the zygomatic bone articulates
with the temporal bone
Zygomaticofacial foramensmall foramen for passage of the
zygomaticofacial nerve

Temporal
process

Zygomaticofacial
foramen

Maxillae

Alveolar processes of the maxillae

includes the sockets and supporting
bone for the maxillary teeth
Infraorbital
foramen

Large infraorbital foramen for

passage of the infraorbital nerve &
vessels
Alveolar
process

Surrounds most of the pear-shaped

piriform aperture

Piriform
aperture

Maxillae
Frontal processes of the maxillae
articulates with the frontal bone
Zygomatic processes of the maxillae
articulates with the zygomatic bones
Anterior nasal spine- sharp
prominence at inferior aspect of the
piriform aperture

frontal
process

Anterior
nasal
spine

Intermaxillary suture- site where

the two maxilla are united in the
median plane
Zygomatic
process

Intermaxillary
suture

Maxillae
Perpendicular
plate

Seen within the piriform aperture

are the scrolled middle nasal
conchae (part of the ethmoid
bone) & the inferior nasal
conchae
Vomer bone along with the
perpendicular plate of the
ethmoid bone which together
form the bony nasal septum can
also be identified with the
piriform aperture

Middle &
Inferior
concha

Vomer

Mandible
U-shaped bone with alveolar
process that houses the
mandibular teeth
Mental foramen- located inferior
to 2nd premolar for passage of the
mental nerve and vessels
Mental protuberance- a
triangular elevation of bone that
forms the prominence of the chin
Mental tubercle- located just
lateral to the protuberance

Ramus

Body
Alveolar
process

Mental
foramen

Body is the horizontal portion

Ramus is the vertical portion

Mental protuberance

Lateral Aspect of the Skull

1. Parietal bone
2. Frontal bone
3. Occipital bone
4. T emporal bone
5. Sphenoid bone
6. Mandible
7. Zygomatic bone
8. Maxillae
9. Lacrimal bone
10. Nasal bone

1.

2.
9.
5.
4.

10.
7.

8.

6.

3.

Parietal Bones
Paired bones that form the lateral &
superior cranium
Temporal Lines- mark the
attachment site of the temporalis
muscle & fascia
Articulates with frontal bone via
coronal suture
Articulates with occipital bone via
lambdoid suture
Pterion-site where 4 cranial bones
articulate-important clinical
implications

Coronal suture
Temporal
lines

Parietal

Lambdoid
suture

Temporal Bones
Squamous

Temporal bone is described

as having a flat squamous
portion and a mastoid
process (site of attachment
of several muscles)
Mastoid
process

Zygomatic arch extends

anteriorly to articulate with
the zygomatic bone

Zygomatic arch

Temporal Bones

External acoustic meatus

(ear canal) and the pointed styloid
process are considered to be
located the tympanic portion of
the temporal bone
External
acoustic
meatus

Styloid process serves as the

attachment site for several
muscles and the stylohyoid
ligament

Styloid process

Temporal Bones
Mandible and a portion of the
zygomatic arch removed in this
view
Located on the inferior aspect of
the arch is a small bony
protrusion- articular tubercle
that is important in the
mechanics of the TMJ
Mandibular fossa- deep recess
that accepts the condyle of the
mandible-also important region
of the TMJ

Articular
tubercle

Mandibular
fossa

Zygomatic bone
Zygomatic arch
Frontal process

Temporal process that

articulates with the the zygomatic
arch

Frontal process that articulates

with the frontal bone

Zygomaticofacial foramen
small foramen generally visible
Temporal process
Zygomaticofacial
foramen

Occipital Bone
Forms the posterior aspect of
the skull

Lambdoid
suture

Articulates with the parietal

bone via the lambdoid
suture
Prominent palpable elevation
located posteriorly is the
external occipital
protuberance

External
Occipital
protuberance

Sphenoid Bone
- Irregular shaped bone that forms a
portion of the orbit, lateral aspect of
skull and a portion of the cranial base
- Sphenoid can be divided into 4
parts:
1. Greater wing
2. Lesser wing
3. Pterygoid processes
4. Body
- Some portions of the sphenoid can
only be seen inside the cranial cavity

Sphenoid Bone

4 portions of Sphenoid Bone

Portion of zygomatic arch and
mandible removed in this view
Greater wing articulates with the

Greater wing

temporal, parietal & frontal bones at the

pterion

Pterygoid processes are two thin

plates of bone that serve as attachment
sites for muscles

Pterygoid hamulus-small hook of

bone extending from the medial
pterygoid plate- tensor veli palatini
tendon courses around this

Pterygoid
hamulus

Pterygoid
process

Calvaria
Emissary foramen- small,
inconsistent (not always present)
foramina for passage of emissary veins

Bregma- is the landmark formed by the

intersection of the sagittal & coronal
sutures

Bregma
Coronal
suture

Sagittal
suture

Emissary
foramen

Lambda-is the landmark formed by the

intersection of the sagittal & lambdoid
sutures

Lambdoid
suture

Lambda

Calvaria
Diploe

Inferior aspect of the skull cap

presents several features:
Grooves for
middle
meningeal
artery

Vascular grooves for branches of the

middle meningeal artery

Granular Foveolae- pits formed by

arachnoid granulations (site of CSF
transfer)

Groove for the superior sagittal

Granular
foveolae

sinus-large venous channel within the

dura mater

Diploe- cancellous bone containing

red marrow

Groove for superior

sagittal sinus

Cranial Base
- Inferior aspect of the skull
presents six different bones:
1. Palatine processes
2. Palatine bone
3. Sphenoid bone
4. Vomer
5. Temporal
6. Occipital bone
- Numerous foramina can also
be identified

1
2
4

3
5
6

Cranial Base
Hard palate is formed by the
palatine processes of the
maxillae and the horizontal
plates of the palatine bone
Small prominence projecting
posteriorly form the hard
palate in the median plane is
the posterior nasal spine

Palatine
processes

Horizontal
plate of the
Palatine bone

Posterior
nasal
spine

Cranial Base- Palate

Posterior to the central incisors is a
small depression-incisive fossa with
a pair of canals- incisive canals for
the passage of the nasopalatine
nerves

Posterolaterally are the greater &

lesser palatine foramen for passage
of the nerves & vessels of the same
name

Incisive
canals

Greater and
Lesser
Palatine
foramina

Cranial Base-Vomer
Vomer-thin, flat unpaired
bone in the midline that
forms a major portion of the
bony nasal septum
On either side of the vomer
are two large openingschoanae (posterior nasal
apertures)

Vomer

Choanae

Cranial Base- Sphenoid

- Three parts of the sphenoid bone
can be appreciated on the inferior
aspect of skull:
Greater
wing

1. Greater wing
2. Medial pterygoid plate
3. Lateral pterygoid plate
- Pterygoid fossa is between the two
pterygoid plates

Lateral
pterygoid
plate

Medial
pterygoid
plate

Cranial Base- Sphenoid

Foramen
ovale

Foramen ovale for passage of the

mandibular division (V3) of the
trigeminal nerve

Foramen spinosum- for passage

of the middle meningeal artery

Groove for the pharyngotympanic

(auditory) tube lies medial to spinosum

Foramen
spinosum

Auditory
Tube-groove

Cranial Base- Temporal

Mastoid process- prominence
located posteriorly on the temporal
bon

EAM

External acoustic meatus

(EAM) is located just anterior to the
mastoid
Mastoid
process

Cranial Base- Temporal

Mandibular
fossa

Styloid process- thin bony

process extending inferior &
anteriorly

Mandibular fossa- articular

surface that accepts the condyle of
the mandible forming the TMJ

Styloid
process

Cranial Base- Temporal

Two important foramen can be
identified on the inferior aspect of the
temporal bone:

Carotid canal

Stylomastoid foramen- located

between the mastoid & styloid processes is a
small foramen for the passage of the facial
nerve (CN VII)

Carotid canal- passage for the internal

carotid artery into the cranial cavity

Stylomastoid
foramen

Cranial Base- Occipital

- Occipital bone forms the posterior
and inferior aspects of the skull

- Foramen Magnum- a large

foramen for passage of the spinal cord

- Foramen magnum divides the

Foramen
magnum

occipital bone into 3 parts:

1. Basilar Region
2. Condylar Region
3. Squamous Region

Cranial Base- Occipital

Basilar portion presents a small tubercle-

pharyngeal tubercle for

attachment of the pharyngeal constrictors

Foramen lacerum (jagged-shaped)

is located lust lateral to the basilar portion

Foramen
lacerum

Pharyngeal
tubercle

Cranial Base- Occipital

Jugular
foramen
Hypoglossal
canal

Condylar portion presents the

occipital condyles that articulate
with the atlas

Jugular foramen- large foramen

between the occipital & temporal
bones for passage of cranial nerves:
IX, X, XI and the internal jugular
vein

Hypoglossal canal for passage of

the hypoglossal nerve (CN XII)

Occipital
condyle

Cranial Base- Occipital

Squamous portion presents the
palpable external occipital
protuberance
Superior & inferior nuchal lines
project laterally and are sites for
muscular attachments

Superior &
inferior
nuchal lines

External
occipital
protuberance

Cranial Base
Internal aspect of the cranial base is
divided into three major regions or
fossae:

1. Anterior cranial fossa

2. Middle cranial fossa
3. Posterior cranial fossa

Anterior cranial fossa

Middle cranial fossa

Posterior cranial fossa

These three fossae lie at different

levels and form the bowl-shaped
floor of the cranial cavity

Anterior Cranial Fossa

Ethmoid

Frontal lobes of the brain occupies

the anterior cranial fossa
Fossa is formed by the:

1. Orbital portion of the

frontal bone
2. Ethmoid bone in the
middle
3. Lesser wing of the
sphenoid

Orbital portion of
the frontal bone

Lesser wing of
the sphenoid

Anterior Cranial Fossa

On either side of the crista galli is a
sievelike Cribriform plate for
passage of the olfactory axons into
the cranial cavity

Optic canal for passage of the

optic nerve (CN II) and the
Optic canal
ophthalmic artery can be
appreciated within the lesser
wing of the sphenoid

Cribriform plate

Middle Cranial Fossa

Temporal lobes of the brain
occupy the middle cranial
fossa
Fossa is formed by the:
1. Greater wing of the
sphenoid
2. Squamous portion of the
temporal bone
3. Petrous portion of the
temporal bone

Greater wing
of sphenoid

Squamous
portion temporal
bone

Petrous portion
temporal bone

Middle Cranial Fossa

Sella turcica- the saddle-like
bony formation located on the
superior aspect of the body of
the sphenoid
Sella turcica is surrounded by
anterior & posterior clinoid
processes

Sella
turcica

Anterior and
Posterior clinoids

Middle Cranial Fossa

Sella turcica is composed of
three parts:
1. Hypophyseal fossa (pituitary
fossa)
2. Tuberculum sellae (saddle
horn)
3. Dorsum Sellae (back of the
saddle)
Sella turcica- essentially houses
and guards the pituitary gland

Tuberculum sellae

Hypophyseal fossa

Dorsum sellae

Middle Cranial Fossa

Middle cranial fossa presents
five important foramina:
Superior orbital fissure

1. Superior orbital fissure for

passage of CNs III, IV, V1 & VI &
ophthalmic veins

2. Foramen rotundum which

transmits the maxillary nerve (V2)

3. Foramen ovale- which

transmits the mandibular nerve (V3)

Foramen rotundum

Foramen ovale

Middle Cranial Fossa

Foramen spinosum which transmits
the middle meningeal artery

Foramen spinosum

Foramen lacerum- nothing is

transmitted vertically thru this foramen
although the internal carotid artery and Foramen
lacerum
some nerves pass across the foramen
horizontally

Grooves for the greater & lesser

petrosal nerves are located along
the anterior slope of the petrous portion
of the temporal bone

Petrosal grooves

Middle Cranial Fossa

Petrous portion of the temporal
bone houses the middle and inner
ear cavities
Arcuate eminence- marks the roof
of the anterior semicircular canal of
the inner ear cavity

Trigeminal impression

Arcuate eminence

Trigeminal impression is located

just anteromedial the eminencewhich marks the location of the
sensory ganglion of the trigeminal
nerve

Posterior Cranial Fossa

The largest & deepest of the
three fossae
Cerebellum, pons and medulla
occupy the posterior fossa
Formed mainly by the occipital
bone and the petrous & mastoid
portions of the temporal bone

Occipital
bone

Temporal bone
Petrous portion

Posterior Cranial Fossa

Clivus marks the anterior portion of
the occipital bone

Foramen magnum- large

foramen that marks the transition
from the medulla to the spinal cord
Posterior to the foramen magnum is
the internal occipital crest and

internal occipital
protuberance

clivus

Occipital crest

Internal occipital
protuberance

Posterior Cranial Fossa

Jugular
foramen

Sigmoid sinus empties into the

large jugular foramen which
also transmits several cranial
nerves:
1. Glossopharyngeal (CN IX)
2. Vagus (CN X)
3. Accessory (CN XI)

Groove for the

Sigmoid sinus

Transverse
Sinus groove

Posterior Cranial Fossa

Internal acoustic meatus is
located just anterosuperior to the
jugular foramen

Internal acoustic meatus

Internal
acoustic
meatus

transmits the facial nerve (CN VII) and

vestibulochochlear nerve (CN VIII)
along with the labyrinthine artery

Hypoglossal canal for the

hypoglossal nerve (CN XII) lies
superior to the margin of the foramen
magnum

Hypoglossal
canal

Foramen-foramen
Cribrifrom plate-CN I

Superior Orbital Fissure

CN III, IV, V1 & VI
Optic Canal CN II

Foramen Rotundum- CN V2
Foramen Ovale-CN V3

Hypoglossal Canal
CN XII

Internal Acoustic MeatusCN VII & VIII

Jugular Foramen- CN IX, X and XI

Osteology of the Orbit

Seven bones articulate to
make each orbit:
superior

1. Frontal
2. Zygomatic
3. Maxillary
4. Lacrimal
5. Ethmoid
6. Palatine
7. Sphenoid

lateral

2
3

inferior

medial

Osteology of the Orbit

Optic canal- transmits the optic
nerve and ophthalmic artery
Optic canal

Superior orbital fissuretransmits CN III, IV, V1 & VI

Inferior orbital fissure &
groove- transmits the infraorbital
vessels & nerve
Anterior & posterior ethmoidal
foramina- transmits vessels &
nerves with same name

Superior
orbital
fissure

Inferior
orbital
fissure &
groove

Ethmoidal
foramina

Thank you