The skull contains 22 bones that are divided into 8 cranial bones and 14 facial bones. The cranial bones form the cranial cavity that surrounds and protects the brain, while the facial bones form the framework of the face and provide attachment points for facial muscles. Specific cranial bones include the frontal, parietal, occipital, temporal, sphenoid, and ethmoid bones. The facial bones include the maxillae, palatine, nasal, lacrimal, zygomatic, vomer, and mandible. Additionally, the skull contains small auditory ossicles in the middle ear and sinuses located in cranial bones that help reduce the weight of the skull.

1. Bones of the Skull (pg 4)

2. Bones of the Skull
• Skull contains 22 bones (8 cranial and 14
facial)

3. Bones of the Skull
• Skull contains 22 bones (8 cranial and 14
facial)
• Cranial bones form the cranial cavity that
surrounds and protects the brain

4. Bones of the Skull
• Skull contains 22 bones (8 cranial and 14
facial)
• Cranial bones form the cranial cavity that
surrounds and protects the brain
• Facial bones form the framework of the face,
support the entrances to the digestive and
respiratory systems, and provide attachment
points for the muscles involved in facial
expression

5. Cranial Bones
• Frontal (1): Forms the forehead and the roofs
of the eye sockets

6. Cranial Bones
• Frontal (1): Forms the forehead and the roofs
of the eye sockets
• Parietal (2): Form the sides and roof of the
cranial cavity.

7. Cranial Bones
• Frontal (1): Forms the forehead and the roofs
of the eye sockets
• Parietal (2): Form the sides and roof of the
cranial cavity.
• Occipital (1): Forms the back and the base of
the cranium. Contains foramen magnum, the
hole through which the spinal cord passes

8. Cranial Bones
• Frontal (1): Forms the forehead and the roofs
of the eye sockets
• Parietal (2): Form the sides and roof of the
cranial cavity.
• Occipital (1): Forms the back and the base of
the cranium. Contains foramen magnum
• Temporal (2): Form the lower sides of the
cranium. Contains the external auditory
meatus (ear canal)

9. Cranial Bones
• Frontal (1): Forms the forehead and the roofs
of the eye sockets
• Parietal (2): Form the sides and roof of the
cranial cavity.
• Occipital (1): Forms the back and the base of
the cranium. Contains foramen magnum
• Temporal (2): Form the lower sides of the
cranium. Contains the external auditory
meatus (ear canal)
• Sphenoid (1): Spans the width of the cranial
floor. Shaped like a butterfly

10. Cranial Bones
• Frontal (1): Forms the forehead and the roofs of the
eye sockets
• Parietal (2): Form the sides and roof of the cranial
cavity.
• Occipital (1): Forms the back and the base of the
cranium. Contains foramen magnum
• Temporal (2): Form the lower sides of the cranium.
Contains the external auditory meatus (ear canal)
• Sphenoid (1): Spans the width of the cranial floor.
Shaped like a butterfly
• Ethmoid (1): Forms most of the bony area between the
nasal cavity and the orbits. 3 parts: Cristagalli
(triangular upper portion), Cribiform plate (contains
olfactory foramina), and Perpendicular plate (forms
part of nasal septum)

11. Cranial sutures
• Sagittal suture: between the parietal bones

12. Cranial sutures
• Sagittal suture: between the parietal bones
• Coronal suture: between the frontal bone and
the parietal bones

13. Cranial sutures
• Sagittal suture: between the parietal bones
• Coronal suture: between the frontal bone and
the parietal bones
• Lambdoid suture: between the occipital bone
and the parietal bones

14. Facial Bones
• Maxillae (2): Form the upper jaw, floor of the
orbits, and roof of the mouth. Contains the
upper teeth

15. Facial Bones
• Maxillae (2): Form the upper jaw, floor of the
orbits, and roof of the mouth. Contains the
upper teeth
• Palatine (2): L-shaped bones behind the
maxillae. Form posterior part of hard palate

16. Facial Bones
• Maxillae (2): Form the upper jaw, floor of the
orbits, and roof of the mouth. Contains the
upper teeth
• Palatine (2): L-shaped bones behind the
maxillae. Form posterior part of hard palate
• Nasal (2): Form the bridge of the nose

17. Facial Bones
• Maxillae (2): Form the upper jaw, floor of the
orbits, and roof of the mouth. Contains the
upper teeth
• Palatine (2): L-shaped bones behind the
maxillae
• Nasal (2): Form the bridge of the nose
• Lacrimal (2): Located in the medial walls of the
orbits (eye sockets)

18. Facial Bones
• Zygomatic (2): Cheek bones. Joins with the
temporal bone to form the zygomatic arch

19. Facial Bones
• Zygomatic (2): Cheek bones. Joins with the
temporal bone to form the zygomatic arch
• Inferior nasal conchae (2): Thin, curved bones
that project into the nasal cavity

20. Facial Bones
• Zygomatic (2): Cheek bones. Joins with the
temporal bone to form the zygomatic arch
• Inferior nasal conchae (2): Thin, curved bones
that project into the nasal cavity
• Vomer (1): Forms part of nasal septum

21. Facial Bones
• Zygomatic (2): Cheek bones. Joins with the
temporal bone to form the zygomatic arch
• Inferior nasal conchae (2): Thin, curved bones
that project into the nasal cavity
• Vomer (1): Forms part of nasal septum
• Mandible (1): Lower jaw. Articulates with the
temporal bone at the temporomandibular
(TMJ) joint. Contains the lower teeth and
mental foramina

22. Other bones of the skull
• Auditory ossicles: malleus, incus, and stapes.
Tiny bones in the middle ear

23. Other bones of the skull
• Auditory ossicles: malleus, incus, and stapes.
Tiny bones in the middle ear
• Hyoid bone: U-shaped bone in the neck.
Functions as a base for the tongue. Only bone
in the body that does not articulate directly
with another bone

24. Sinuses
• Air-filled cavities lined with mucous
membranes. Reduce weight of skull

25. Sinuses
• Air-filled cavities lined with mucous
membranes. Reduce weight of skull
• Located in the frontal, sphenoid, ethmoid, and
maxillary bones