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The last lecture Dr. Rashed talked about the first part of the
skull which is the cranial part, he talked about cranial bones and
the specific features of each of them.
Today we are going to talk about the second part which is the
facial bones (the bone that forming the shape of the face), and
the other name of them is the vesrocranium (vesro: refer to the
face) while the other name of the cranial bones is the
neurocranium (neuro: refer to the brain).
Note: The difference between the skull and the cranium is that
the cranium is the skull without the mandible.
BEFORE WE START , PLEASE KEEP LOOKING TO THE PICTURE
IN THE SLIDE OF THE DR ,COZ IT WILL HELP YOU SO MUCH

The bone that contributing to the facial skeleton are 14 in
number and most of them are couple bone (one on the right and
one on the left) whereas the cranial bones most of them are
single bone except the temporal bone & the parietal bone.
-the first bone of the facial skeleton is the zygomatic bone
,which we can feel it very easily ,and there is 2 zygomatic bones
(right & left ).
-the second one is the maxillary bone ,and also we have 2
maxillary bones The difference between the skull and the
cranium is that the cranium is the skull without the
mandible.(right & left ),they fuses together and form the upper
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jaw ,however the lower jaw made up of one bone which is the
mandible .
-the third one it is the nasal bone.
The nasal bone consist of 2 small plates that forming the bridge
(roof) of the nose , these bone since they are very prominent and
weak bones ; they are the most common bone to be fracture in
the skull.
-another one that is located a little bit behind the nasal bone
called the lacrimal bone (lacrimal: refer to the tears).
When we look to these bone we will find a depression or fossa
that contain a sacs of connective tissue ,these sac collecting the
tears so when it is filled , the tears will be dropped out from the
medial aspect of the eye ,that is why we called these bone the
lacrimal bone.
-the vomer
It is triangular shaped and sharped bone, and it is considered
very important because it is contributing to the inferior half of
the nasal septum.
the nasal cavity divided into right and left nasal cavities and
these division formed by the septum ,the upper half of the nasal
septum is made by the vertical plan of the ethmoid bone however
the lower half is made by the vomer.
So the vomer is single bone and contributing to the lower half of
the nasal septum which divides the nasal cavity into right & left
half.
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-the palatine bone
We cannot see them from the anterior view we have to look from
the inferior aspect of the skull because they are contributing to
the posterior third of the hard palate.
*between the nasal cavity and the oral cavity there is a
separating wall called the palate, so the palate forming the roof
of the oral cavity and the floor of the nasal cavity.
*the palate made up of different structure, the part that contain
the bone is very hard while another part contain muscle (soft
tissue) is soft. So we have: 1-hard palate 2- soft palate.
*now, the bone of the hard palate:
1- anterior 2 third made by the maxillary bone.
2- Posterior 1 third made by the palatine bone.
-in the lateral wall of the nasal cavity there is a small shelves of
bone that descending down from there and we refer to them as a
conchae (singular : concha) ,those conchae are going down to
protect the opening on the lateral wall of the nasal cavity.
*there is a species within the bone called paranasal sinuses and
those sinuses usually opened into the lateral wall of the nasal
cavity and they are protected by bony shelves called the conchae.
*on each lateral wall we have 3 shelves (conchae) ;sup,middle,inf.
the superior concha in the upper third and covered by the nasal
bone.
the superior and middle conchae are considered as a part of
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ethmoid bone.
however, the inferior concha in both sides are separate bones ,
that why they are consider as a part of facial skeleton .








-the last bone of the facial skeleton it is the mandible which is
form the lower jaw .
Now, in a regional way (not related to these bones) we divide the
face into different region:
1-forehead region
the bone that contributing most of the forehead region it is the
frontal bone (however the frontal bone also contributing to the
cranium and help in covering the brain)
2- beneath the forehead we can find 2 large spaces called the
orbital cavities ,these cavities are considered very important
because they are containing 2 systems :
So
Superior ,middle, inferior conchae locate in the lateral wall of the nasal
cavity .
Superior part of ethmoid bone
Middle

Inferior separate bone by itself
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A) the visual system : consist of the eyeball & ocular muscle
(which is moving the eyeball)
B) the lacrimal system : consist of the lacrimal glands that
release the tears from the upper lateral corner of the orbital
cavity ,then the tears goes all over the eyeball to cleans it ,and
the usually collect in the lower medial corner of the orbits within
a sacs called the lacrimal sacs .
NOTE: the orbit doesnt the eyeball, it is just a space in the skull
that containing the eyeball and lacrimal glands
These orbital cavities are pyramidal in shape and have 4 walls,
with its base in front which is opened to allow the eyeball to
project anteriorly, and its apex behind.
(We will speak about them in details later on )
3- Nasal cavity
divided into 2 half right and left by the nasal septum which is
made by perpendicular plat of ethmoid and vomer.
4-jaws
The upper jaw made by maxillary bone and the lower jaw made by
the mandible.
So these are the regional parts of the vecero cranium; forehead
,orbit , nasal cavity , jaws .
Now we will speak in details about each of them.
Forehead
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-made by: frontal bone
-there is very important intersection usually used by the
orthodontics called the nasion.
So, the nasion: it is the intersection between the 2 nasal bones
and frontal bone.
another thing is that the metopic suture which is NOT always
present .during development and growth of the skull ,the frontal
bone made up of 2 half (right and left) and the center of
calcification start from there ( that is mean we have 2 centers of
calcification right one &left one).
So during these calcification and formation of frontal bone ,the
right & left half usually continue to calcify until they reach the
midline , now, these midline will not calcify it will remain as a
connective tissue suture called the frontal suture ( during the
infancy and childhood).
This suture is considered very important because it is allow for
the expansion of the skull, l2no as the child growth up, the skull
will also grow. So to allow for larger growth of the skull we keep
this suture there. (that is mean as the skull growth posteriorly
will also grow anteriorly by these suture in both side ) that is
why we have the frontal suture.
So the frontal suture normally will be present, and it is appear at
birth and still until childhood (usually close at the age of 6 years).
b5te9ar the frontal suture located in the median plane and in
immature skull also it is usually fuses in early childhood and
become one bone which the frontal bone.
However , if the frontal suture doesnt close at the age of 6
years and continue to adulthood in some people we dont refer
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to it as the frontal suture ( because now it is NOT normal ) so it
is called the metopic suture .
(y3ne metopic suture : it is the frontal suture but after the age
of 6 years )
**ALL human have frontal suture until the age of 6 years .
**SOME few percent after the age of 6 years, the frontal
suture doesnt close ,so now it is called the metopic suture .
-NOW , if we dont have frontal suture before the age of 6 years
, y3ne if the frontal suture close at birth ( the 2 half already
fuses ) , in these case there will be no much expansion of the skull
aneriorly so the skull will grow in other sides but anteriorly
doesnt and because of that the shape of the skull in the infant
will become triangular ( very sharp anteriorly ) in these case we
refer to it triangulocephally .
** so , the trianglocephaly happed because of what???
Premature closure of frontal suture usually during infancy .

The orbital cavity
-there is no base of the orbital cavity anteriorly to allow the
eyeball to project from there ( FROM THE BOOK : about one
sixth of the eye is exposed ; the remainder is protected by the
walls of the orbit ).
the apex of the orbital cavity located posteriorly and called the
optic canal (foramen) which is allow the optic nerve and
ophthalmic artery to pass through it.
between the apex and base we have 4 walls (roof,floor,medial
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wall,laterl wall).
** Each wall made up of 2 bones except the medial wall made up
of 4 bones.
**the roof is made up of the frontal bone and lesser wing of
sphenoid bone.
**the lateral wall is made up of zygomatic bone and greater wing
of sphenoid bone.
**the floor is made up of maxillary bone and posteriorly the
palatine bone.
** is made up of frontal process of maxilla, lacrimal bone,
ethmoid bone, the body of sphenoid bone.
NOTE: the nasal bone doesnt contributing to the medial wall; it is
just contributing to the bridge of the nose.
QU: all the following bones contributing to the medial wall of the
orbit EXCEPT:
1)sphenoid bone
2)palatine bone
3)ethmoid bone
ANSWER : the palatine bone
QU: in which part of the orbit dose the lesser wing of sphenoid
contributing there :
1)roof
2)floor
3)medial wall
4) lateral wall
ANSWER: the roof

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-the orbital cavity contain the eyeball and lacrimal apparatus and
there is also 2 fissures ( species) :
1) the superior orbital fissure :located between the roof & the
lateral wall ( located posteriorly between the greater and lesser
wing of the sphenoid bone )
2) the inferior orbital fissure: located between the floor & the
lateral wall ( located posteriorly between the maxilla and the
greater wing of the sphenoid ) .
Those fissures very important because they allow the orbit to
communicate with other areas
-the superior one: communicates the orbit with the cranial cavity
(middle cranial fossa) because there is very important veins &
nerves( the trochlear, oculomotor nerve) will pass through these
fissure , the nerves come from the brain and then pass through
sup.orbital fissure and supply the ocular muscle which is the
muscle that allow you to move your eye (sup , inf ,,,, etc ).
The inferior one : communicates the orbit with the infratemporal
fossa which is considered very important area especially to the
persons who get specialized in dental occupation ( FROM THE
BOOK: because these fissure transmits the maxillary nerve and
its zygomatic branch , the inferior ophthalmic vein, and the
sympathetic nerves ).

NASAL CAVITY :)
location : Inf: to the ant cranial cavity
sup:to the oral cavity
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The nasal cavity is divided into right and left halves by Nasal
septum the septum is made up of the septal cartilage , the
vertical palate of the ethmoid bone ,
and the vomer .


Ethmoid Bone :
composed of 2 plates one horizontal and
the other is perpendicular or vertical .
the horizontal one is cribriform
Why ?! to allow olfactory nerve fibers
pass from the carnial cavity to the nasal
cavity
Crista Galli : sharp upword projection of
the ethmoid bone ( when the 2
perpendicular plates join together above
the horizontal plate )
FROM THE BOOK
Walls of the nasal cavity :
Each half of the nasal cavity has
a floor , roof , lateral wall , medial
or septal wall .
Floor : the palatine process of the
maxilla and the horizontal plate
of the palatine bone .
Roof : the roof is narrow and is
formed anteriorly beneath the
bridge of the nose bb the nasal
and frontal bones , in the middle
by the cribriform plate of the
ethmoid ,located beneath the
anterior cranial fossa , and
posteriorly by the downward
sloping body of the sphenoid .
Lateral Wall :
the lateral wall has 3 projection
of the bone called
superior,middle,inferior conchae
* the space below each conchae
called meatus
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To continue the shape of the Ethmoid bone
2 small wings (shells) become attached to
the lateral side of the horizontal plate
which called superior and middle conchae .

MAXILLA :
Maxilla is the bone of the upper jaw made of Body and 2 Ramus
Body : pyramidal in shape with 4 processes or long elevations
1- Zygomatic process of Maxilla : going laterally to the zygomatic bone
2- Frontal process : project superiorly to the frontal bone
3- Alveolar process : projecting inferiorly and have a sockets
and contain the root of the teeth ( upper teeth)
4- palatine process : projecting posteriorly and form the anterior 2/3
of the hard palate .
Qu : How many Maxillary bone in the upper jaw ?
2 bones the 2 Alveolar processes
both Alveolar processes ( right and left one ) form what we called upper
Dental arch But in the lower jaw which made one bony partmandible have
one Alveolar process connecting superiorly .
NOTE :
when you look to the nasal
cavity you cant see the superior
conchae because its covered
by the nasal bone .
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In Addition to these processes the body of the Maxilla is empty inside
Why?! To reduce the weight of the skull and for other function we will
mention it in the AIR SINUSes


Maxillary Air sinus is the largest air sinuses in the skull
Maxillary Processes
Also ln the Muxlllu we cun flnd 2 IMPORTANT Forumlnu :
1- InfruOrbltul f : locuted ln the body of the Muxlllu |ust beneuth the Orblt ,very
Importunt structures ( InfruOrbltul nerve und blood vessel ) pusses from wlthln the
Muxlllu (posterlorly) to the Fuce to provlde blood und nerve supply to the ureu
below the Orblt .
y Infruorbltul nerve ls termlnul brunch of the Muxlllury nerve thut supply the
teeth
2- Inclslve Forumen : behlnd the centrul lnclsors between the pulutlne
processes ,ullowlng very lmportunt nerve to puss (INCISIVE NERVE )
Termlnul brunch of Nusopulutlne nerve whlch ulso come from Muxlllury
nerve .
* Inclslve nerve supply prlmury pulute ( the reglon of the pulute thut contuln
u trunsverse pulutlne folds


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MANDIBLE :
the bone of the lower jaw have a ( u ) shape body and 2 superior ramus .
* because the body is horizontal and the ramus is vertical the area between
them called Angle and it easily palpated .
















TM JOINT : THE ONLY MOVABLE JOINT IN THE SKULL .
NECK : narrowing of the condylar process
the HEAD OF THE MANDIBLE = CONDYLE
NOTE :
the nerve that supply the lower teeth called Lower Mental nerve OR Inferior
alveolar nerve
this nerve pass within a foramina in the ramus of the Mandible at the level of the second
pre-molar it give a branch which passes through Mental foramina ( in the body of the
Mandible)
to give sensation to the Chin area >
So what is the important features that found in the body of the MANDIBLE ?! 1-
mental foramina 2-alveolar process
RAMUS :
feutures of the rumus :
* Mundlbulur Notch On the superlor border und 2 elevutlons one
ANTERIOR und the Other posterlor ,the unterlor one CALLED
Coronold process becuuse lt llke u (crown )
very lmportunt WHY ?! one of the Mustlcutlon Muscle (Temporulls
Muscle) ln the temporul bone go downwurd luterully to lnserted onto the
coronold process of the mundlble the Contructlon of the temporul
muscle elevutes the mundlble.
*Condylur process :
locuted posterlorly und huve u Condyle ( smooth rounded bony surfuce)
form TM |olnt.

hg






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THE NECK OF THE MANDIBLE = THE NECK OF THE CONDYLAR PROCESS
.

The mandible considered as the largest and strongest facial bone but its
the second facial bone to be fracture ! Why ?
* only movable bone in the skull .

In addition each ramus of the Mandible have Mandibular foramina
this foramina is very important because the dental nerve which supply the
teeth and give a branch to Mental nerve pass through this foramina
* this foramina protected by a small bony elevation called lingual






PARANASAL SINUSES :
DEF : air containing spaces within the cranial bones
fun : 1. Reduce the weight of the skull
2. Voice modification
3. Insulation effect prevent the loss of the heat from the nasal cavity .
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From wiki :
Sinusitis is inflammation of the paranasal sinuses, which may be due to
infection, allergy, or autoimmune issues. Most cases are due to a viral
infection and resolve over the
course of 10 days.



All of the sinuses open to the
nasal cavity except ?!
the 5
th
one ( Mastoid air cells)
*mastoid process easily palpated
behind the ear , part of the
temporal bone. *
open into middle ear



Purunusul slnuses :
1. Muxlllury slnuses : the tooth root on
the upper jaw very sensitive to the cold air
that come from the environment to the
nasal cavity So to prevent heat lose
Maxillary sinuses during exhalation will be
filled with wormed air so when cold air
come from outside the sinuses is already
filled with air , the cold air continue to the
RES ( THE cold air will not reach the
dental root )
2. Frontal sinuses : located in frontal bone
,above the orbit , middle meatus
* smaller than maxillary
3. Sphenoid sinuses :
in the body of the sphenoid under the sella
tucica .
* smaller than frontal
4 . ethomidal air cells :group of many small
spaces not large to called sinuses
anterior . middle , posterior groups

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Please forgive us if you any mistake
Heba Radaideh , Haya Momani
GOOD LUCK
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