Cranial Clues
These jagged, immovable joints are where the bones of the skull join together.
What are Sutures?
This is the only movable bone in the entire skull.
What is the Mandible?
This is the most powerful muscle of mastication and it elevates the mandible to close the jaw.
What is the Masseter?
Known as the 'Kissing Muscle,' it surrounds the lips to close and pucker them.
What is the Orbicularis Oris?
These are the largest paranasal sinuses and are located right above the roots of the upper molars.
What are Maxillary Sinuses?
The buterfly-shaped bone 'binds' all the other cranial bones together.
What is the Sphenoid bone?
This rounded area behind the last maxillary molar is a key landmark for anesthesia and radiography.
What is the Maxillary Tuberosity?
This fan-shaped muscle on the side of the skull both elevates and retracts the mandible.
What is the Temporalis?
This 'Trumpeter Muscle' forms the wall of the cheek and holds food against the teeth.
What is the Buccinator?
These openings are located near the lower premolars where nerves and blood vessels exit the mandible.
What are Mental Foramina?
The spinal cord enters the skull through this large opening in the occipital bone.
What is the Foramen Magum?
This is the midline where the two halves of the mandible fused during development.
What is the Symphysis?
This is the only muscle among the four pairs of mastication muscles that opens the mouth.
What is the External Ptergoid?
This muscle pulls the corners of the mouth up and is known as the 'Smiling Muscle'.
What is the Zygomatic Major?
This foramen is located behind the central incisors and is a common site for a nerve block injection.
What is the Incisive Foramen?
This bone forms the forehead and the roof of the eye sockets.
What is the Frontal bone?
The horizontal portion of the mandible that holds the teeth is the body, while this is the vertical portion.
What is the Ramus?
This muscle works with the masseter to form the 'Mandibular Sling' that supports the jaw.
What is the Internal Pterygoid?
This component of the TMJ acts as a cushion of cartilage between the temporal bone and the mandible.
What is the Articular Disc?
Inflammation in these cavities can cause 'referred pain' that feels like a toothache in the upper molars.
What are the Maxillary Sinuses?
These two bones form most of the roof and upper sides of the skull.
What are Parietal bones?
This portion of the maxilla and mandible specifically supports the teeth in their sockets.
What is the Alveolar Process?
All four pairs of chewing muscles are innervated by this specific branch of the Trigeminal Nerve.
What is the Mandibular Nerve?
The 'ball' of the mandible that fits into the temporal bone to form the TMJ is this process.
What is the Condyloid Process?
These air-filled cavities lighten the skull and give resonance to the voice.
What are Paranasal Sinuses?