Head and Neck Anatomy and Physiology
Cranium- Surrounds brain
Face- Contains orbital cavities (eyes) and nasal cavity
All bones except mandible are fixed by joints called sutures
Topmost vertebral bone- Atlas (Used for nodding movements)
Second vertebral bone- Axis (Used for head rotations)
Outer bone layer- Compact bone
Inner bone layer- Cancellous bone
Fontanelles- Allows growth of brain at birth and infancy stage
Frontal lobe- Forehead
Parietal- Top sides of cranium
Temporal- Lower sides of cranium, in front of ears
Occipital- Back/underside of cranium
Sphenoid- Underside of cranium
Ethmoid- Behind nose
Fissures- Blood vessels for head and neck structures passing in between spaces
in bones
Foramen- Hole/opening
Largest foramen- Foramen magnum
Face-11 bones:
Vomer- Behind nose, connects facial and cranial skull regions
Lacrimal- Eye sockets
Nasal bones- Nose bridge
Nasal turbinates- Debris removal
Palatine bones- Hard palate posterior, side wall of nasal cavity
, Zygomatic bones- Articulate with cranium posterior and anteriorly in
zygomatic arch to meet with maxilla
Maxilla- Maxillary jaw (upper), lower part of eyes, nose base and anterior hard
palate
Mandible- Mandibular jaw (lower), posterior meeting with cranium at TMJ
Oroantral Fistula- Unwanted connection between sinus and teeth
Sinusitis- Inflammatory infection of sinus
Maxillary tuberosity- Back of alveolar process, fractured off during upper 8’s
XLA
Infraorbital foramen- Beneath eye sockets
Greater and lesser palatine foramina- Back of hard palate, nerves to posterior
teeth
Incisive Foramen- Front of hard palate, nerves to anterior teeth
Areas of Mandible:
Centre line- Metal symphysis
Vertical Section- Ramus
Horizontal Section- Body
Joining angle- Angle of mandible
Mandibular Foramen- Halfway up ramus, nerves to lower teeth and soft tissues
Mental Foramen- Outer surface of body
TMJ (Temporal Mandibular Joint):
Hollow region- Glenoid Fossa
Front edge- Articular Eminence
Between surfaces- Meniscus, prevents surfaces grating against each
other
Cranium- Surrounds brain
Face- Contains orbital cavities (eyes) and nasal cavity
All bones except mandible are fixed by joints called sutures
Topmost vertebral bone- Atlas (Used for nodding movements)
Second vertebral bone- Axis (Used for head rotations)
Outer bone layer- Compact bone
Inner bone layer- Cancellous bone
Fontanelles- Allows growth of brain at birth and infancy stage
Frontal lobe- Forehead
Parietal- Top sides of cranium
Temporal- Lower sides of cranium, in front of ears
Occipital- Back/underside of cranium
Sphenoid- Underside of cranium
Ethmoid- Behind nose
Fissures- Blood vessels for head and neck structures passing in between spaces
in bones
Foramen- Hole/opening
Largest foramen- Foramen magnum
Face-11 bones:
Vomer- Behind nose, connects facial and cranial skull regions
Lacrimal- Eye sockets
Nasal bones- Nose bridge
Nasal turbinates- Debris removal
Palatine bones- Hard palate posterior, side wall of nasal cavity
, Zygomatic bones- Articulate with cranium posterior and anteriorly in
zygomatic arch to meet with maxilla
Maxilla- Maxillary jaw (upper), lower part of eyes, nose base and anterior hard
palate
Mandible- Mandibular jaw (lower), posterior meeting with cranium at TMJ
Oroantral Fistula- Unwanted connection between sinus and teeth
Sinusitis- Inflammatory infection of sinus
Maxillary tuberosity- Back of alveolar process, fractured off during upper 8’s
XLA
Infraorbital foramen- Beneath eye sockets
Greater and lesser palatine foramina- Back of hard palate, nerves to posterior
teeth
Incisive Foramen- Front of hard palate, nerves to anterior teeth
Areas of Mandible:
Centre line- Metal symphysis
Vertical Section- Ramus
Horizontal Section- Body
Joining angle- Angle of mandible
Mandibular Foramen- Halfway up ramus, nerves to lower teeth and soft tissues
Mental Foramen- Outer surface of body
TMJ (Temporal Mandibular Joint):
Hollow region- Glenoid Fossa
Front edge- Articular Eminence
Between surfaces- Meniscus, prevents surfaces grating against each
other
