Identifying Bones of the Skull

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Anatomy › Identifying Bones of the Skull

Questions 1 - 10
1

Which facial bone is responsible for the formation of the lateral wall of the orbitals?

Zygomatic bones

Palatine bones

Nasal bones

Lacrimal bones

Maxillary bones

Explanation

While many bones are responsible for the formation of the orbit, it is the zygomatic bones that make up the lateral portion of the orbitals. You can remember this by keeping in mind that the zygomatic bones are also called the cheek bones, and are on the lateral sides of your face.

The frontal bone forms the superior region of the orbital, and the lacrimal bone forms the medial border. The maxillary and zygomatic bones each form part of the inferior border, with the zygomatic bone extending into the lateral border. The sphenoid and ethmoid bones both form the posterior wall, with the sphenoid region lateral to the ethmoid region.

2

Where is the lacrimal bone?

It forms a part of the orbit, nearest the nasal bone

Located behind the eyes

The lower jaw

The posterior aspect of the skull

Explanation

The lacrimal bone is located in the orbit, nearest the nasal cavity. The sphenoid bone is located behind the eyes. The mandible makes up the lower jaw. Finally, the occipital bone is located in the posterior aspect of the skull.

3

There are __________ deciduous teeth in children, and __________ permanent teeth in adults.

20 . . . 32

20 . . . 30

22 . . . 30

22 . . . 32

18 . . . 34

Explanation

There are 20 deciduous teeth in children, and 32 permanent teeth in adults. In children, each quadrant is composed of 2 incisors, 1 canine, no pre-molars, and 2 molars. In adults, each quadrant is composed of 2 incisors, 1 canine, 2 premolars, and 3 molars. There is some variation in the adult number, as the third molar, or wisdom tooth, is not present in all individuals.

4

Which of these is not a hole in the skull?

Greater sciatic foramen

Foramen magnum

Jugular foramen

Foramen spinosum

None of these

Explanation

All of these are "holes" or foramina (plural of foramen) of the skull except the greater sciatic foramen which is located in the pelvis. Foramina allow for the passage of veins, nerves, and even muscles through bones. However, the hip is one of the few areas a muscle passes through a bone. The greater sciatic foramen allows for the passage of the piriformis muscle which takes up most of foramen. There are also several nerves such as the sciatic nerve and veins such as the gluteal vein.

5

Which ossicle is closest to the skull?

Stapes

Incus

Malleus

Anvil

Explanation

The stapes, or stirrup, is the ossicle closest to the skull. It is the last bone in the "chain" of ossicles. The incus, also known as the anvil, is the middle bone. The malleus, or hammer, is the most distal bone from the skull.

6

Which bone of the skull articulates with all the others listed?

Sphenoid

Frontal

Parietal

Temporal

Ethmoid

Explanation

The sphenoid bone is a central wedge that spans across the cranial floor. It is shaped like a bat with its wings spread and articulates with every bone in the skull.

7

The modern human adult dental formula is 2:1:2:3 per quadrant.

To what kind of teeth does the first '2' in the dental formula refer?

Incisor

Canine

Premolar

Molar

Wisdom tooth

Explanation

The first '2' in the 2:1:2:3 modern human adult dental formula refers to incisors. There are two incisors in each of the four quadrants in adult modern humans, situated in the frontmost part of the dental arcade, for a total of eight of this type of tooth per individual. The wisdom tooth is the third molar and is not always present in all individuals nor in all quadrants.

8

Where is the lambdoid suture located?

Between the parietal bones and the occipital bone

Between the parietal bones and the temporal bones

Between parietal bones

Between the frontal bone and the parietal bones

Between the temporal bones and the parietal bones

Explanation

Humans skulls contain sutures, which are dense fibrous connective tissue joints that holds the bony plates of the skull together. The lambdoid suture connects the parietal bones with the occipital bone. This suture is actually continuous with the occipitomastoid suture.

9

What suture ties together the occipital and two parietal bones on the posterior cranium?

Lambdoidal suture

Squamosal suture

basilar suture

sagittal suture

coronal suture

Explanation

The lambdoidal suture ties together the occipital and two parietal bones on the posterior cranium.

The sagittal suture runs along the top of the cranium, between the two parietal bones. The coronal suture runs laterally from the top of the cranium and ties together the frontal and two parietal bones. The squamosal suture is the area where the squamosal section of the temporal bone is beveled and overlaps the parietal bone. The basilar suture, also referred to as spheno-occipital synchondrosis, is a suture between the occipital and sphenoid bones.

10

What bone makes up your "forehead?"

Frontal bone

Parietal bone

Temporal bone

Occipital bone

Zygomatic bone

Explanation

The bone that makes up your "forehead" is the frontal bone because it is the most anterior bone of the skull and is the underlying bone of the forehead. The parietal bone are posterior to the frontal bone and do not make up the forehead. The occipital bone is the most posterior bone of the skull and the zygomatic bone is inferior to the frontal bone and makes up the "cheek bone."

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