The Skull & Vertebral Column

Skull
The sup. part of axial sk., that:
1. Covers & protect the brain
2. Provides facial sk. (shape of face)

Skull = 22 bones:
1. Cranial Bones (Brain box)

2. Facial bones
 Cranial Bones (8 bones)

Frontal Parietal Occipital Temporal Sphenoid Ethmoid

(1) (2) (1) (2) (1) (1)
 Facial Bones (14 bones)

Zygomatic (2)

Maxilla (2)

Nasal (2)

Lacrimal (2)

Vomer (1)

Palatine (2)

Inferior Conchae (2)

Mandible (1)
 Neurocranium (Brain Box)
1. Cranial Vault:
- forms the roof & sides of brain box
- (Frontal, Parietal, Squamous of occipital, squamous of
temporal & greater wing of sphenoid)

2. Cranial Base:
- forms the floor of brain box
- (orbital frontal, ethmoid, sphenoid, petrous temporal &
basilar occipital)
 Cranial Vault (Calvaria)

Oval shape and broaden post.

Made up of:
Which bones?

Cranial Vault bones are:

Diploe bones

Extensions:
Supraorbital margins (ant.)

Sup. Nuchal Line & EOP (post.)

 Cranial Vault
3 sutures:

1. Coronal suture
which bones?

2. Sagittal suture
which bones?

3. Lambdoid suture
which bones?
 4 points
1. Bregma:
intersection of sagittal &
coronal sutures
2. Vertix:
sup. topmost point of the
cranium
3. Lambda:
intersection of sagittal &
lambdoid sutures
4. Pterion:
-sup. to midpoint of zyg. arch
-indicated by H-shaped sutures
-very dangerous area (why?)
Cranial Base (Base of The Skull)

The floor of brain box

2 surfaces

I. Internal surface (endocranial):

3 fossae (depressions)
Ant., Middle, & Post.

II. External surface:

inf. aspect of the skull
 Anterior Cranial Fossa
Made of:
1.Orbital plates of frontal bone:
anterolateral
frontal crest & foramen cecum

2.Lesser wing of sphenoid

posteriorly, sharp boundary

3.Cribriform plate of ethmoid

central, roof of nasal cavity
perforated for transmission of olf. Ns.
crista galli:
median projection from Ethmoid that
provides attachment site for ?
 Middle Cranial Fossa
Butterfly-shaped:

Centrally:
sella turcica (sphenoid body)

Laterally:
2 depressed parts

Extensions:
Post. Lesser wing of sphenoid

Sup. Border of petrous temporal
 Sphenoid Bone
Middle of skull base (keystone)

Consist of:
Body:
sphenoid air sinuses
Greater Wing
floor of ??
Lesser Wing
post. part of ??
Pterygoid processes:
(legs)
pterygoid plates
 Sella Turcica
Composed of
1. Tuberculum sellae:
Ant. elevation
horn of the saddle

2. Hypophysial fossa:
pituitary fossa

3. Dorsum sellae:
post. bony elevation
back of the saddle

Surrounded by:
Clinoid processes (bed post)
 Foramina in Middle Cranial Fossa
1. Optic canal:
lesser wing
optic n.

2. Sup. Orbital fissure:

between lesser & greater
wings
communicates?

3. Foramen Rotundum: (round)

greater wing
post. to medial end of
sup. Orbital fissure
V2
4. Foramen ovale: (oval)
greater wing,
posterolat. to rotundum
V3

5. Foramen Spinosum:
greater wing
posterolat. To ovale
middle meningeal a.

6. Foramen Lacerum:
between sphenoid & temporal
covered by cartilage in life
artifact foramen after death
 Posterior Cranial Fossa
The largest & deepest fossa

Made up of:
Post. Petrous, occipital,
small portion of sphenoid

Centrally:
Clivus
F. Magnum
Int. Occipital Crest
IOP
Laterally:
contains the cerebellum

2 broad grooves: transverse & sigmoid V. Sinuses

 Foramina in Post. Fossa
1. Foramen Magnum
occipital bone (basilar)
M. oblongata & meninges,
V.a., spinal XI

2. Jugular Foramen:
between temporal & occipital
Int. Jugular V. & ???

3. Hypoglossal Canal:
anterolat. Wall of F. magnum
XII

4. Int. Acoustic Meatus:

ant. to jugular, VII & VIII
 External Surface of Cranial Base
(Inf. Aspect of Skull)
Facial Sk. (viscerocranial) Part:

Alveolar Processes of Maxillae

Palatine Processes of Maxillae*

Horizontal Plates of Palatine

Bone*

Vomer

*Hard Palate*
Braincase (neurocranial) Bones:

Sphenoid
pterygoid plates & greater
wing

Temporal Bone:
mandibular fossa
styloid & mastoid processes
S-M foramen & carotid canal

Occipital Bone
Viscerocranium
(Facial Skeleton)
 Forehead

Made by:
frontal bone (which part)

Extensions ?

*Nasion:
intersection of frontal &
nasal bones
 Orbital Cavity
Pyramidal in shape, 4 walls?

Contents ?

2 fissures (inside):

Sup. Orbital fissure

between?, communicates?

Inf. orbital fissure

between?
 Nasal Cavity
Located between:
Ant. Cranial Fossa
&
Oral Cavity

Nasal Septum:
1. perp. Plate of ethmoid
2. vomer

Nasal Conchae:
lateral wall
 Maxilla
Body & 4 Processes

Body:
pyramidal
hollow inside (max. sinus)

2 foramina:
Infraorbital F.
ant. wall, infraorbital n.

Incisive Foramen:
between palatine processes
post. to central incisors
incisive n. (nasopalatine n.)
 Maxillary Processes

Zygomatic:
projects lat.,
ant. zyg. Arch

Frontal:
sup.,
lat. to nasal bones

Alveolar:
inf.,
contains upper teeth

Palatine:
post.,
ant. 2/3 of hard palate
 Mandible

Largest & strongest facial bone

Only movable skull bone

Horizontal part:
Body

Vertical Parts:
Rami (ramus)

Jxn.:
Angle
Body:
mental foramen
alveolar process

Ramus:
mandibular notch
coronoid process
condylar process:
head & neck
lingula & mand. foramen
 Vertebral Column
(33 Vertebrae):

7 Cervical

12 Thoracic

5 Lumbar

5 Sacral
4 Coccygeal
 IV Discs
2 parts:

Annulus fibrosus (fibrous):

Concentric layers of
fibrocartilage
Strengthens the disc, & protects
the central part

Nucleus pulposus (gelatinous):

Central core of the disc
More elastic ( water)
Shock absorber

*Avascular
 Structure of Typical Vertebra
Body

Vertebral arch
(P & L)

7 processes
 Cervical Vertebrae
7 vertebrae:
C3-C6 = typical
C1, C2 & C7 = atypical

Characteristics of typical C.V.:

1. small body (rectangular)

2. transverse foramina (v.a.)

*exception: C7

3. short bifid spinous process

* exception: C7 (longest s.p.)

4. large triangular V. foramen

 Atlas (C1)
1st cervical V. (ring-like bone)

Characteristics:
1. no body
2. no spinous process
3. ant. & post. arches
4. 2 lateral masses
 Axis (C2)

2nd cervical vertebra

*Odontoid process (dens= tooth):

binds to atlas at A-A joint
(hence the name= axis)

* Dens represents the body of atlas

that has fused with body of axis
 Thoracic Vertebrae
12 vertebrae:

Characteristics of typical T.V.:

1. heart shaped body

2. small circular V. foramen

3. long spinous process

(downward)

4. costal facets on the body and

T. processes
 Lumbar Vertebrae
5 vertebrae:

Characteristics of typical T.V.:

1. large kidney shaped body

2. triangular V. foramen

3. short quadrangular spinous

process (post. projected)

Mammillary process: small tubercles

located on the posterior aspect of
the superior articular processes
The accessory process lies inferior
and lateral to the mammillary body