The skull, connections of the skull bones

Plan of the lecture

1. The structure and development of the cerebral and visceral skull

2. The skull as a whole
3. Craniometry
4. Butresses
5. Paranasal sinuses
6. Articulations of the skull (synarthroses, diarthroses)

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Craniology is a section of anatomy studying the human skull

2 parts of the skull

1. cerebral cranium
(neurocranium)
skull-cup, or vault (calvaria)
+ the base (basis)
the receptacle for the brain
and the sensory organs

2. visceral cranium (cranium

viscerale)
encloses the initial part of
the digestive and respiratory
tracts

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Cerebral cranium
consists of:
• the unpaired
bones
• the paired bones

Visceral cranium
is formed by:
• the unpaired
bones
• the paired bones

Bones associated with the

skull
• Auditory ossicles enclosed
in temporal bones
• Hyoid bone

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The border between the skull-cup and the base of the skull
1. external occipital
protuberance
2. superior nuchal line
3. base of the mastoid
process
4. superior edge of the
porus acusticus externus
5. radix of zygomatic
process
6. infratemporal crest of
the greater wing of the
sphenoid bone
7. supraorbital border
8. nasal part of the frontal
bone

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Development of the skull in the phylogenesis

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 Developmental stages of the skull in ontogenesis

The calvaria – 2 stages

• membranous
• bony
Primary bones

The bones of the cranial

base - 3 stages:
• membranous
• cartilaginous
• Bony
Secondary bones

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 Ossification of the bones
Bone Ossification as membrane Ossification in
bone (in connective tissue) cartilage
Occipital bone
 Squama +
 Remaining parts + (enchondral ossification)
Sphenoid bone
 Greater wings (lateral part), lamina medialis processus +
ptrygoideus, sinus sphenoidalis
 Corpus and other parts +
Temporal bone
 Squamous and tympanic part +
 Petrous part +
Parietal bone +
Frontal bone
 Nasal part +
 Remaining parts +
Ethmoid bone +
Upper jaw bone +
Palatine bone +
Inferior nasal concha (inferior turbinate bone) +
Nasal bone +
Lacrimal bone +
Vomer +
Zygomatic bone +
Lower jaw bone
 Condylar and coronoid processes +
 Remaining parts +
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Hyoid bone +
 Development of the visceral skull in the ontogenesis
• Develops from the paired visceral arches (are located on
the left and right sides of the developing pharynx)
• In lower aquatic vertebrates water reaches the gills
through the branchial arches
• Animals start leaving water for land - the gills lose their
importance
• In man – the material of the branchial (= gill) arches are
used for the development of the bones of the face

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 Derivatives of the Branchial Arches and Corresponding Nerves
Derivatives of the human
Pharyngeal Name of the arches arches Cranial nerves
arches
Mandibular arch  Malleus Third branch of
First  Incus trigeminal nerve
(visceral)
arch
•Proc. maxillaris (dorsal part)  Meckel’s cartilage (lower (5th pair)
•Proc.mandibularis (ventral part) jaw)
 Maxilla
 Stirrup
 Styloid process of skull
Second Hyoid arch (visceral)  Lesser horns and part of
(is centred on Reichert's cartilage) the body of the hyoid Facial nerve (7th pair)
arch
bone
 Ligamentum
stylohyoideum

Thyroid arch Greater horns and part of Glossopharyngeal

Third the body of the hyoid bone nerve (9th pair)
arch (First branchial arch)

Second branchial Superior laryngeal

Fourth branch of vagus
arch arch
Thyroid cartilage of larynx (10th pair)
Recurrent laryngeal
Fifth branch of vagus
arch Third branchial arch 14
(10th pair) (Sapin – inferior
laryngeal branch)
 Development of the face

(continuation - development of the visceral skull in

the ontogenesis)

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Initially 5 mesenchymal swellings form (aka processes or prominences):
• 2 mandibular prominences (right and left, from 1st arch)
• 2 maxillary prominences (right and left, from 1st arch)
• frontonasal prominence (midline structure, from cranial neural crest
mesenchyme) 16
 Development of the face
frontonasal
prominence divides
into 2 lateral and
medial nasal
prominences

Development of the face occurs via the growth and fusion of these 5 prominences:
•the mandibular prominences grow together to form a single mandible
•the maxillary prominences grow toward the midline and fuse with the lateral and
medial nasal prominences
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Development of the face

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 Development of the face

A deep groove called the nasolacrimal groove forms between the maxillary and
lateral nasal prominences on either side of the developing nose. Most of the
groove is obliterated with fusion of the maxillary and lateral nasal prominences, but
a small portion persists as the nasolacrimal duct and lacrimal sac
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 Development of the face

• Inward growth of the maxillary prominences causes them to fuse with

the medial nasal prominences – formation of the midline of the nose
and philtrum of the upper lip
• the superior portion of the frontonasal prominence form the forehead
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Development of the face

Development of the palate

A. Primary palate
 forms via the fusion of the two medial nasal prominences in the
midline
 (of course, this midline fusion is driven via growth of the maxillary
prominences which pushes the nasal prominences toward to the
middle)
 Pp consists of the premaxillary segment of the maxilla, which
contains the four incisors and the incisive canal
B. Secondary palate
 forms via outgrowths of the maxillary prominences called
the palatine shelves

Initially, the palatine shelves project on either side of the tongue. With
growth and expansion of the mandible the tongue moves down,
allowing the palatine shelves to grow toward the midline and fuse to
form the secondary palate, which consists of the palatine segment of
the maxilla and palatine bone.

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Disruption of growth of the tongue and/or mandible can therefore
secondarily cause a cleft secondary palate
 Development of the face
Embryonic development of the face
Embryonic Origin Future tissues
structures
Stomadeum Ectodermal depression Oral cavity proper
enlarged by disintegration
of oropharyngeal
membrane
Mandibular arch Fused mandibular Lower lip, lower face, mandible with associated
processes and neural tissues
crest cells
Maxillary process Superior and anterior Midface, upper lip sides, cheeks, secondary
swelling from mandibular palate, posterior part of maxilla with associated
arch and neural crest cells tissues, zygomatic bones, part of temporal
bones
Frontonasal Ectodermal tissue and Medial and lateral nasal processes
process neural crest cells
Nasal pits Nasal placodes Nasal cavity
Medial nasal Frontonasal process Middle of nose, philtrum region, intermaxillary
process medial to nasal pits segment
Intermaxillary Fused medial nasal Anterior part of maxilla with associated tissues,
segment processe primary palate, nasal septum
Lateral nasal Frontonasal process Nasal alae 22
process lateral to the nasal pits
 Development of the face

Adult face with its

embryonic derivatives of the
five facial processes: Anterior oblique drawing of a 5-week embryo (A) shows the further growth of the medial
and lateral nasal processes and the development of the nasal sac. The bucconasal groove
single frontonasal process is shown.
and paired maxillary and B, Anterior oblique drawing of a 6-week embryo shows closure of bucconasal groove
completing the floor of the nasal cavity and progressive flattening of the nasal sac
mandibular processes openings, mainly as a result of ventrolateral growth of the medial nasal processes. The
nasal sacs are also pushed toward the midline as the maxillary processes grow. Anterior
oblique drawing of a 7-week embryo (C) and a 10-week (D) embryo shows the progressive
medial movement of the nasal sacs and the resulting progressive pushing upwards of the
frontonasal process
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Summary of the contributions of the prominences to
the adult face (review)

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 Peculiarities in development of the skull in the phylogenesis

• replacement of the membranous and cartilaginous

skull by a bony skull;

• fusion of the bones of the cerebral cranium and a

reduction in their number and simultaneous
complication of their structure;

• conversation of the visceral arch cartilages to bones

of the visceral skull;

• progressive development of the cerebral cranium

and its predominance over the visceral skull which is
most pronounced in man
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 The bones of the human skull may be divided into
three groups according to their development
1. Bones forming the cerebral capsule:
(a) Those developing in connective tissue, the
bones of the calvaria - the parietal and frontal
bones, the squama of the occipital bone, the
squamous and tympanic parts of the temporal
bone;
(b) Bones developing in cartilage, the bones of the
base - the sphenoid bone (except for the medial
plate of the pterygoid process), the body and
lateral parts of the occipital bone, the petrous
part of the temporal bone
2. Bones developing in association with the
nasal capsule:
(a) Developed in connective tissue - the lacrimal
and nasal bones and the vomer;
(b) Developed in cartilage -the ethmoid and the
inferior turbinate bones
3. Bones developing from the visceral arches:
(a) immobile (fixed) bones - the upper jaw, the
palatine and zygomatic bones;
(b) mobile bones, namely the lower jaw, hyoid
bone, and auditory ossicles
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The structure of the flat bones of the skull-cup

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The structure of the flat bones of the skull-cup

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Os sphenoidale – sphenoid bone

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Os temporale – temporal bone

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Os hyoideum – hyoid bone

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The skull as a whole

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 The skull as a whole Positions (aspects) of the skull

In the anatomical position, the cranium is oriented so that

the inferior margin of the orbit and the superior margin of
the external acoustic opening of the external acoustic
meatus of both sides lie in the same horizontal plate. This
standard craniometric reference is the orbitomeatal
plane (Frankfort horizontal plane)

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The skull as a whole Sections of the skull

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 The skull as a whole Structures of the skull
1. Orbits, or eyesockets (orbitae)
2. Cavity of the nose (cavitas nasi)
3. Hard palate (palatum osseum)

4. Base of the skull (basis cranii)

• upper surface of the base of the skull (basis cranii interna)
(1) anterior cranial fossa (fossa cranii anterior)
(2) middle cranial fossa (fossa cranii media)
(3) posterior cranial fossa (fossa cranii posterior)
• external surface of cranial base (basis cranii externa)

5. Fossae (on the lateral surface of the skull)

(1) the temporal fossa (fossa temporalis);
(2) the infratemporal fossa (fossa infratemporalis);
(3) the pterygopalatine fossa (fossa pterygopalatina) 36
 The skull as a whole
Orbits, cavity of the nose, hard palate
Short description of the orbits (e.g):
1. In what aspect of the skull do we
can see the orbits;
2. The walls, its structure (which
bones form each wall);
3. Fissures, canals, foramens (name
arteries, veins, and nerves,
passing through these structures);
4. Communications of the orbita;
5. Contents of the orbita

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 The skull as a whole
The temporal, infratemporal and pterygopalatine fossae

Description of the fossae (e.g):

1. In what aspect of the skull we can see the fossa;
2. The walls (borders), its structure (which bones form
each wall);
3. Communications of the fossa (name arteries, veins,
and nerves, passing through these structures);
4. Contents of the fossa
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 The skull as a whole
The pterygopalatine fossa (fossa pterygopalatina)

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 The skull as a whole
Upper surface of the base of the skull (basis cranii interna)

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The skull as a whole

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 Craniometry

Сephalic index (CI) = bipareital diameter (BPD)/occipitofrontal diameter (OFD) x 100% 43

80 % or more - brachycephalic or broad; between 75 and 80 % - mesaticephalic; below 75 % - dolicocephalic or long
Measurement of the orbits (length, width and depth)
(student’s scientific work)

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Measurement of the volume and square of the orbits
(student’s scientific work)

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 Peculiarities of the newborn skull

• Cerebral skull 8 times as large over the facial (in adult ratio of the facial
skull to the brain is approximately 1: 2 – because of the development of
muscles of mastication)
• Wide orbits
• The spaces between the bones are filled with layers of connective tissue
or cartilage
• The volume of the cerebral skull – 375 cubic cm
• Frontal and parietal tuberositas are conspicuous
• Superciliary ridges and frontal sinuses are absent
• The mandible has distinct right and left halves, united in the midline by
fibrous tissue
• Mastoid process is not present in the neonatal skull and develops later
in response to the pull of the sternocleidomastoid muscle
• The site of muscles attachment are not expressed
• Presence of fontanelles
• The auditory tube is wide and short
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Buttresses (pillars)

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Paranasal sinuses

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Paranasal sinuses

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articulations of the skull bones

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Synarthroses – junctura fibrosa - sutures

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Fibrous connections SUTURES
Age peculiarities of sutures

 At the age of first 3 years the margins of

the bones of the cerebral skull are
jointed be means of the thin connective-
tissue layers forming the plane sutures

 By 3 years of life show the appearance of

the serrate sutures to strengthen the
contacts btw the bones

 At the 5-7 years old the squama of the

temporal bone rides up on the temporal
bone with forming the squamous suture

 The cranial sutures disappear (obliterate)

because the syndesmoses between the
bones of the vault are converted to
synostosis; first – sagittal, the last –
lambdoid sutures

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Synarthroses – juncture fibrosa - fontanelles

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Fibrous connection GOMPHOSIS

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Temporomandibular joint (articulatio temporomandibularus)

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Temporomandibular joint (articulation temporomandibularus)
Articular disc (discus articularis)

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Temporomandibular joint Ligaments

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 Temporomandibular joint Ligaments

Ligament Temporomandibular Stylomandibula Sphenomandibular Diskomaleolar (Pinto’s)

(lateral) ligament r ligament ligament ligament
Origin processus styloid process sphenoid spine malleus
zygomaticus of the
temporal bone, disc,
and articular tubercle
Insertion mandibular neck posterior edge of lingula of the medial wall of the articular capsule
the angle of the mandible and disc
mandible
Action superficial, more has a role of suspends the passes through the
vertically oriented limiting mandible and limits squamotympanic fissure to the
part limits jaw limits excessive excessive anterior middle ear; caused the tinnitus
retrusion and anterior motion motion (protrusion) and secondary inflammation of
laterotrusion TMJ

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Mechanichs of movement in TMJ Muscles

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Mechanichs of movement in TMJ Movements

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Mechanichs of movement in TMJ Movements
Depression of the mandible

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Mechanichs of movement in TMJ Movements
Protrusion of the mandible

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 Shortly – description of the TMJ
Algorithm of describing the joints Temporomandibular joint

1. Simple or compound (according the 1. Simple joint (art.simplex) – 2 articular surfaces: fossa articularis and caput mandibulae
number of articular surfaces)
2. Combined (a combination of several 2. Combined joint (art.combinatoria)
isolated joints, located separately, but
functioning together) or noncombined
joint
3.Complex (contains an intra-articular 3. Complex joint (art.complexa) – contains the articular disc which separates the join cavity into
cartilage in the cavity of the articular two compartment
capsule) or noncomplex joint
4.The shape of the articular surfaces 4. Ellipsoid shape (when we are speaking about 1 TMJ) or condyloid joint (about 2 TMJ)

5.The number of axes 5.TMJ is a condyloid joint (2 axes), but because of the articular disc, it permits movements in
three direcrions (3 axes)
(1) downward and upward movements with opening and closure
of the mouth - in the lower compartment of the joint, between
the articular disc and the articular head on the transverse axis
passing through both heads;
(2) forward and backward movements - in the upper compartment of the joint;
(3) lateral movements - in the upper compartment; the articular head and disc
of only one side leave the articular fossa and approach the articular tubercle,
while the contralateral head remains in the articular fossa and rotates on the
vertical axis
6. Accessory devices of the joint 6. (Intra)articular disc; ligaments – extracapsular, intracapsular, related to the TMJ but not
connected with the articular capsule; connection with middle ear
7.Peculiarities of the joint 7. The articular capsule is attached along the border of the mandibular fossa up to the
petrotympanic fissure and thus encloses the articular tubercle and embraces the neck of the
mandible inferiorly. Joint capsule: a thin-fibrous, cone-shaped, the medial and lateral walls are
reinforced by the medial and lateral ligaments
The articular fossa is partly included in the cavity of the TMJ: extracapsular part is located65
behind
the squamotympanic fissure and extracapsular part lies to the front of it
 Atlanto-occipital joint

Articulation between the atlas and the axis

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 Atlanto-occipital joint
Algorithm of describing the Atlanto-occipital joint
joints
1. Simple or compound 1. Simple joint (art.simplex) – 2 articular surfaces: condyle of the occipital bone
(according the number of and fovea articularis superior atlantis
articular surfaces)
2. Combined (a combination of 2. Combined joint (art.combinatoria)
several isolated joints, located
separately, but functioning
together) or noncombined joint
3.Complex (contains an intra- 3. Noncomplex joint (art.acomplexa) – doesn’t contain the articular disc
articular cartilage in the cavity of
the articular capsule) or
noncomplex joint
4.The shape of the articular 4. Ellipsoid shape (when we are speaking about 1 AOJ) or condyloid joint (about 2
surfaces AOJ)
5.The number of axes 5. Two axes
(1) bending the head backward and forward on the transverse (frontal) axis;
(2) lateral bending of the head (abduction and adduction) to the right and left
on the sagittal axis;

6. Accessory devices of the joint 6. Ligaments – the anterior atlanto-occipital membrane (membrana atlanto-
occipitalis anterior); the posterior atlanto-occipital membrane (membrana
atlanto-occipitalis posterior)
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7.Peculiarities of the joint
 Algorithm of describing the joints The atlas and the axial vertebra joint

Is united by means of three joints I. Two lateral atlanto-axial joints (articulationes atlantoaxiales laterales)
II. The median atlanto-axial joint (art.atlantoaxialis mediana)

1. Simple or compound (art.simplex or 1. Lateral atlanto-axial joints - Simple joint - the inferior articular surfaces of the atlas and the
art.composita) (according the number similar superior surfaces of the axis
of articular surfaces) Median atlanto-axial joint – Compound joint – odontoid process (dens axis), anterior arch of the
atlas (fovea dentis), transverse ligament of the atlas
2. Combined (a combination of several 2. Combined joint (art.combinatoria)
isolated joints, located separately, but
functioning together) or noncombined
joint
3.Complex (art. complexa) (contains an 3. Noncomplex joint (art.acomplexa) – doesn’t contain the articular disc
intra-articular cartilage in the cavity of
the articular capsule) or noncomplex
joint
4.The shape of the articular surfaces 4. Lateral atlanto-axial joints – plane joint (gliding movement in all direction)
Median atlanto-axial joint – trochoid (pivotal) joint
5.The number of axes 5. One axis
(the movement in combined joint (1) rotation of the head on the vertical axis;
corresponds to the joint with lesser
number of axes)
6. Accessory devices of the joint 6. Ligaments – the cruciform ligament (transverse ligament of the axis + longitudinal upper and
lower bands); apical ligament of the odontoid process (lig.apicis dentis); alar ligaments of the
odontoid process (ligament alaria); membrana tectoria
7.Peculiarities of the joint 68
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