(Saladin, 2015).
The Skull The most complex part of the skeleton is the skull. The average skull consists of 22 bones which are connected by sutures; eight cranial bones and 14 facial bones. Cranial bones enclose the brain and compose the cranium, a rigid structure with a foramen …show more content…
It covers about one third of the roof of the cranial cavity, forms the anterior wall and contains the frontal sinus. The supraorbital margin is a ridge that is deep to the eyebrows and contains a supraorbital foramen which provides a passageway for veins, nerve and arteries (Saladin, 2015).
Parietal Bone
The parietal bone is posterior to the frontal bone and paired, left and right, which form most of the cranial roof and sides of the cranium. It is bordered by four sutures: coronal, lambdoid, sagittal, and squamous (see Figure 3, Appendix A) (Saladin, 2015).
Temporal Bone
The temporal bone makes up the lateral wall and portions of the floor of the cranial cavity. The temporal bone is paired and has an intricate shape that can be described by separating into four parts: the squamous part, tympanic part, mastoid part, and petrous part (see Figure 3, Appendix A) (Saladin, …show more content…
The tympanic part borders the opening of the ear canal. The styloid process, describe as a “pointed spine”, is on the inferior surface and runs attachment for the muscles of the hyoid bone, pharynx, and the tongue (Saladin, 2015).
The mastoid part comprises the mastoid process, the lump you feel behind the ear, which is complete with minor air sinuses. The mastoid notch is a groove that is medial to the mastoid process and is the basis of the digastric muscle, which opens the mouth.
The petrous part is on the cranial floor and separates the cranial fossa from the posterior fossa. On its posteromedial surface there is an opening called the internal acoustic meatus that allows route of the vestibulocochlear nerve, transporting signals from the inner ear to the brain for balance and hearing. The inferior surface of the petrous part has two foramina: the carotid canal and the jugular foramen. These foramina have major blood vessels that pass through them. The carotid canal is a passageway that provides a large blood supply to the brain. Blood then drains through the jugular foramen into the jugular vein of the neck (Saladin,