Intro to the Skull Flashcards
What is the spot on the side of the head called that is thin, and if struck, could result in a rupture in the middle meningeal artery –> epidural hematoma?
The pterion
Name three big differences between an infant skull and an adult skull.
- Cranial sutures are not fused; they are bridged over by membranes, allowing for deformation during birth and brain enlargement.
- Mandible is small.
- Mastoid process is absent.
What causes newborns to have “coneheads?”
Tight birth canal.
What is craniosynostosis? What is the treatment?
Premature closure of the cranial sutures (usually happens by age 2), results in increased intracranial pressure, possibly developmental delays. Surgery is required to separate the sutures.
What happens if the metopic suture closes prematurely?
A metopic ridge might develop down the middle of the forehead (or it could be deviated laterally to one side or the other).
What type of skull fracture would cause bruising behind the ear?
A basilar skull fracture.
What are the boundaries of the infratemporal fossa?
Bounded medially by the lateral pterygoid plate, anteriorly by the maxilla, posteriorly by the occipital bone, and superiorly by the base of skull. Inferiorly it is continuous with the pharynx.
Which facial nerve is found in the infratemporal fossa? Through which foramen does it pass through to get to the infratemporal fossa?
The trunk of V3; it passes through the foramen ovale to get there.
Name the three fossae of the cranial cavity and what lies immediately inferior to each.
Anterior fossa: roof of the orbit is inferior to it.
Middle fossa: root of the infratemporal fossa is inferior to it.
Posterior fossa: the roof of the bony/muscular compartment of the neck is immediately inferior to it.
What are paranasal sinuses? Name the four.
Air-filled spaces within the bones of the skull and face that communicate with the nasal cavity.
Frontal sinuses
Ethmoidal sinuses
Sphenoidal sinuses
Maxillary sinuses
What forms the lateral walls of the nasal cavity? What do they do to inspired air?
Three spongy bones - the conchae (superior, middle, inferior). Their mucosal surfaces warm and humidify inspired air.
What is found deep to the conchae? What happens here?
Meatuses - the paranasal sinuses drain into these.
Name which meatus each paranasal sinus empties into.
They all empty into the middle meatus, except for the nasolacrimal duct, which drains into the inferior meatus, and the posterior ethmoidal air cells, which drain to superior meatus.
What is different about how the maxillary sinus drains into the middle meatus?
The duct is located superomedially, so gravity can’t drain it unless the head is tilted to the side.
What is sinusitis? What can cause it?
Infection of the sinuses, often caused by a previous respiratory tract infection.
Where is pain from sinusitis referred to? Explain.
It is referred to the upper jaw because superior alveolar nerves (a branch of V2 trigeminal) supply the sinus with sensation as they pass through to supply sensation to the upper jaw.
Name the three meningeal layers from superficial to deep.
Dura, arachnoid, pia mater
Describe the dura mater.
Its made of two layers, a tough outer fibrous layer and an inner meningeal layer.
Define the epidural space, subdural space, and subarachnoid space.
Epidural is external to the dura mater.
Subdural is between the dura and arachnoid mater.
Subarachnoid is between the arachnoid and pia mater, this is where CSF lives!
Do the meninges protect the brain within the cranial cavity, provide support for blood vessels and venous sinuses, and enclose the subarachnoid space in which cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) circulates?
Yeah
________ ligaments extend from the pia mater through the arachnoid to the dura mater to prevent lateral movement.
Denticulate ligaments
Where in the meningeal layers is the middle meningeal artery found? What does this artery supply?
The middle meningeal artery runs within the two layers (outer periosteal and inner meningeal) of the dura mater.
The dura mater is fused except for where it forms…?
except for where it forms dural venous sinuses that carry blood from tributaries of cerebral veins
What is an arachnoid granulation?
A broccoli-looking thing that sticks up from the arachnoid mater so CSF can enter the dural venous sinuses.
