3.2 The skull  (Page 4/120)

External and internal views of base of skull

Frontal bone

The frontal bone    is the single bone that forms the forehead. At its anterior midline, between the eyebrows, there is a slight depression called the glabella    (see [link] ). The frontal bone also forms the supraorbital margin of the orbit. Near the middle of this margin, is the supraorbital foramen, the opening that provides passage for a sensory nerve to the forehead. The frontal bone is thickened just above each supraorbital margin, forming rounded brow ridges. These are located just behind your eyebrows and vary in size among individuals, although they are generally larger in males. Inside the cranial cavity, the frontal bone extends posteriorly. This flattened region forms both the roof of the orbit below and the floor of the anterior cranial cavity above (see [link] b ).

Occipital bone

The occipital bone    is the single bone that forms the posterior skull and posterior base of the cranial cavity ( [link] ; see also [link] ). On its outside surface, at the posterior midline, is a small protrusion called the external occipital protuberance    , which serves as an attachment site for a ligament of the posterior neck. Lateral to either side of this bump is a superior nuchal line    (nuchal = “nape” or “posterior neck”). The nuchal lines represent the most superior point at which muscles of the neck attach to the skull, with only the scalp covering the skull above these lines. On the base of the skull, the occipital bone contains the large opening of the foramen magnum    , which allows for passage of the spinal cord as it exits the skull. On either side of the foramen magnum is an oval-shaped occipital condyle    . These condyles form joints with the first cervical vertebra and thus support the skull on top of the vertebral column.

Posterior view of skull

Sphenoid bone

The sphenoid bone    is a single, complex bone of the central skull ( [link] ). It serves as a “keystone” bone, because it joins with almost every other bone of the skull. The sphenoid forms much of the base of the central skull (see [link] ) and also extends laterally to contribute to the sides of the skull (see [link] ). Inside the cranial cavity, the right and left lesser wings of the sphenoid bone    , which resemble the wings of a flying bird, form the lip of a prominent ridge that marks the boundary between the anterior and middle cranial fossae. The sella turcica    (“Turkish saddle”) is located at the midline of the middle cranial fossa. This bony region of the sphenoid bone is named for its resemblance to the horse saddles used by the Ottoman Turks, with a high back and a tall front. The rounded depression in the floor of the sella turcica is the hypophyseal (pituitary) fossa    , which houses the pea-sized pituitary (hypophyseal) gland. The greater wings of the sphenoid bone extend laterally to either side away from the sella turcica, where they form the anterior floor of the middle cranial fossa. The greater wing is best seen on the outside of the lateral skull, where it forms a rectangular area immediately anterior to the squamous portion of the temporal bone.