The Skull and Cranial Cavity  Flashcards

1
Q

What is the viscerocranium?

  1. facial skeleton
  2. cranial cap
  3. facial skin
  4. facial muscles
A
  1. facial skeleton
    - includes orbits** (eye sockets), **nasal** & **oral cavities
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2
Q

What is the neurocranium?

  1. facial skeleton
  2. cranium cavity
  3. facial skin
  4. facial muscles
A
  1. cranium cavity
    - the nervous system contained within

The primary functions of the neurocranium are to form the shape of the head and to protect the brain and the organs that control the five senses; the eyes, the ears and the areas of the brain that control touch, taste and smell.

The bones that make up the neurocranium include the

sphenoid,

temporal,

ethmoid,

parietal,

occipital &

frontal bones.

Remember these bones quickly with the mnemonic “STEP OF” which is combined out of the first letters of the every word.

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3
Q

Label the bones numbered 1 - 8

  • maxilla bone
  • zygomatic bone
  • frontal bone
  • occipital bone
  • parietal bone
  • mandible bone
  • sphenoid bone
  • temporal bone
A
  1. frontal bone
  2. parietal bone
  3. sphenoid bone
  4. temporal bone
  5. occipital bone
  6. zygomatic bone
  7. mandible bone
  8. maxilla bone
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4
Q

The facial bones frontal, parietal, sphenoid, temporal, occipital, zygomatic, mandible and maxilla bones are all characterised as flat bones. How many layers do flat bones characteristically have?

A
  • 2
  • outer later compact bone is resiliant and tough
  • inner layer is spongy bone
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5
Q

The cranium is held together by sutures, which are fibrous joints. Label the 3 main sutures in the cranium numbered 1-3?

  • sagittal (think slices into middle)
  • lambdoid (greek for upside down V)
  • coronal (think coronal slices front to back)
A

1 - coronal (think coronal slices front to back)

2 - sagittal (think slices into middle)

3 - lambdoid (greek for upside down V)

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6
Q

What is the name given to where the coronal and sagittal sutures meet?

  1. bregma
  2. lambda
  3. pterion
  4. coronal
A
  1. bregma
  • bregma - greek for bone directly above the brain
  • also known as frontal fontanelle
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7
Q

What is the name given to where the sagittal and lambdoid sutures meet?

  1. bregma
  2. lambda
  3. pterion
  4. coronal
A
  1. lambda
    - also known as the posterior fontanelle
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8
Q

What is the term given to where the coronal, temporal, parietal and sphenoid bones meet?

  1. bregma
  2. lambda
  3. pterion
  4. coronal
A
  1. pterion
    - french for wings of sphenoid bone
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9
Q

Why is it important to understand where sutures in the skull are and where different bones meet?

A
  • areas of weakness in the skull
  • in babies they are not fused to later so more vulnerable
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10
Q

The pterion (french for wings of the sphenoid bone) is where the coronal, temporal, parietal and sphenoid bones meet. Why is this an important site?

A
  • thinnest part of the skull, so more susceptible to injury
  • large artery called middle meningeal artery
  • if damaged the artery can also be damaged
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11
Q

What are fontanelles?

A
  • sites where sutures meet
  • prior to fusing they are soft and membranous
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12
Q

The anterior fontanelle, also referred to as the bregma is the soft membranous area where the coronal and sagittal sutures meet. What is the clinical importance of the anterior fontanelle?

A
  • facilitates childbirth (moulding)
  • useful for assessing hydration level (suppress if dehydrated)
  • can be used to measure inter-cranial pressure (bulges with increased pressure)
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13
Q

The jaw bone is composed of 2 parts that are fused at its midline, just below the lips on the chin. What is this part of the jaw bone called?

A
  • symphysis menti
  • symphysis = a type of fibrous joint
  • menti = latin for chin
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14
Q

Label the aspects of the jaw bone 1-6 using the labels below:

  • angle
  • body
  • coronoid process (front part of mandibular notch)
  • alveolar processes (ridges in jaw that hold teeth)
  • jaw
  • condylar process (rounded process at end of bone, allows articulation with another bone)
A
  1. coronoid process
  2. alveolar processes
  3. body
  4. angle
  5. jaw
  6. condylar process
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15
Q

The cranium is divided into 3 fossa (depressions). What are the names of the purple, blue and green fossa in the image using the labels below:

  • anterior fossa
  • posterior fossa
  • middle fossa
A
  • purple = anterior fossa
  • blue = middle fossa
  • green = posterior fossa
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16
Q

Different parts of the brain are housed in different parts of the fossa, and each fossa has small openings for nerves and blood vessels to travel through. The anterior fossa is the most shall and lies over the nasal and orbital cavities. Specifically the ethmoid bone of the anterior fossa allows a cranial nerve (CN) to pass through. Where does this occur and which CN is it that passes through?

  1. CN I (1) the olfactory nerve
  2. CN II (2) the optic nerve
  3. CN III (3) the oculomotor nerve
  4. CN IV (4) the trochlear nerve
A
  1. CN I (1) the olfactory nerve
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17
Q

Different parts of the brain are housed in different parts of the fossa, and each fossa has small openings for nerves and blood vessels to travel through. The middle fossa is located centrally and is said to be butterfly shaped due to the sphenoid bone, but it also contains the temporal bone. There are a number of foramen and fissures allowing cranial nerves to pass through. Cranial nerves (CN) II - VI pass through the sphenoid bone of the middle fossa. What are the CN nerves that pass through?

A
    • CN II (2) optic nerve
    • CN VIII (3) oculomotor nerve
    • CN IV (4) trochlear nerve
    • CN V (5) trigeminal nerve
    • CN VI (6) abducens nerve
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18
Q

What is the largest opening of posterior fossa?

  1. foreman magnum
  2. optic canal
  3. carotid canal
  4. jugular foreman
A
  1. foreman magnum
    - spinal cord exits cranium
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19
Q

The bone that sits in the middle of the middle fossa is called the sphenoid bone. Label the 4 main parts of the sphenoid bone using the labels below?

  • greater wings
  • lesser wings
  • pterygoid processes
  • body
A
  1. body
  2. lesser wings
  3. greater wings
  4. pterygoid processes
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20
Q

The bone that sits in the middle of the middle fossa is called the sphenoid bone. The middle part of the sphenoid bone is called the sella turcica, which is turkish for saddle. Which gland sits on the sella turcica of the sphenoid bone?

A
  • pituitary gland
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21
Q

What is the nasion?

A
  • also known as the bridge of the nose
  • most anterior point of the frontonasal suture
  • joins the nasal part of the frontal bone and the nasal bones
  • marks the midpoint at the intersection of the frontonasal suture with the internasal suture joining the nasal bones
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22
Q

What are the 3 main layers of the cranium meninges (membranes that protect the brain)?

  1. dura, arachnoid and plantar mater
  2. dura, arachnoid and pia mater
  3. dura, subarachnoid and pia mater
  4. epiphy, arachnoid and pia mater
A
  1. dura, arachnoid and pia mater
    - think of it as the brian needing 3 layers of covers to go to sleep
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23
Q

What are the 3 main functions of cranial meninges?

A

1 - protection

2 - support

3 - fluid filled cavity to cushion and nourish the brain

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24
Q

The dura mater is the outer most layer of the meninges and has 2 layers, what are these?

  1. periosteum and meningeal layer
  2. endosteal and middle layer
  3. endosteal and meningeal layer
  4. endosteal and periosteum layer
A
  1. endosteal and meningeal layer
  • endosteal layer (endosteum comes from lining of bony surface, so closest to cranium bone)
  • meningeal layer
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25
Q

The dura mater is the outer most layer of the meninges and has 2 layers, the endosteal and meningeal layer which are generally fused together. However, there are instances where the endosteal and meningeal layers are not fused. What are the 2 exceptions of this?

A

1 - spaces are created for venous sinuses

2 - folds/septa are created to create cranial compartments (important to limit infection spreading)

26
Q

The dura mater is the outer most layer of the meninges and has 2 layers, the endosteal and meningeal layer which are generally fused together. However, there are instances where the endosteal and meningeal layers are not fused. One of these is where folds/septa are created to create cranial compartments, what are the 3 main compartments that are created by these folds?

A

1 - falx cerebri

2 - tentorium cerebelli

3 - falx cerebelli

27
Q

What does the falx cerebri seperate?

  1. cerebral hemispheres
  2. cerebrum and cerebellum
  3. cerebellar hemispheres
  4. midbrain and cerebellum
A
  1. cerebral hemispheres
    • cerebri = cerebral
    • left from right cerebral hemispheres
28
Q

The tentorium cerebelli is the second largest reflection in the cranium that is created by the 2 layers of the dura, the endosteal layer (closest to the bone of the cranium) and the meningeal layer. What does thee tentorium cerebelli seperate?

  1. cerebral hemispheres
  2. cerebrum and cerebellum
  3. cerebellar hemispheres and cerebral hemisphere
  4. midbrain and cerebellum
A
  1. cerebellar hemispheres and cerebral hemisphere
29
Q

The second layer of the meninges is located between the the dura mater and the pia mater is called what?

A
  • arachnoid mater
  • called this due to its web like appearance
30
Q

The second layer of the meninges, located between the the dura mater and the pia mater is called the arachnoid mater due to its web like appearance. There is a space created that lies between the arachnoid and pia mater called what?

  1. arachnoid space
  2. subdura space
  3. superior pia space
  4. subarachnoid space
A
  1. subarachnoid space
31
Q

The second layer of the meninges, located between the the dura mater and the pia mater is called the arachnoid mater due to its web like appearance. There is a space created that lies between the arachnoid and pia mater called the subarachnoid space. What fills this space?

A
  • cerebral spinal fluid
  • cerebral arteries, veins, and cranial nerves
32
Q

Underneath the arachnoid mater is a space known as the sub-arachnoid space containing cerebrospinal fluid, which acts to cushion the brain. There are small projections of arachnoid mater into the dura, known as what, and what is their role?

  1. arachnoid granulations and anchorage
  2. arachnoid fistula and drainage
  3. arachnoid drainage and drainage
A
  1. arachnoid granulations and anchorage
  • anchor the arachnoid mater to the pia mater is the mainfunction
  • allow CSF to re-enter the circulation via the dural venous sinuses and out through the jugular vein
33
Q

What is the deepest layer of the meninges called?

A
  • pia mater
34
Q

Which 2 parts of the meninges make up the leptomeninges, latin for thin meninges?

A
  • pia and arachnoid mater
35
Q

Which layer of the meninges adheres to the entire surface of the brain, including all of the sulci and gyri?

A
  • pia mater
36
Q

There are small veins that are able to connect veins outside the cranium to the venous sinuses inside the cranium. Their role is to drain from the scalp, through the skull, into the larger meningeal veins and dural venous sinuses. What are these veins called?

  1. sulcus veins
  2. emissary veins
  3. cephalic veins
  4. basal veins
A
  1. emissary veins
37
Q

What can be one of the factors in the brain that can cause a headache? (relating to the dura)

A
  • stretching of the dura
38
Q

What is meningites?

A
  • infection and inflammation of the meninges, generally the arachnoid and pia mater
  • infections can enter the brain through the subarachnoid space, this is called tissue encephlitis
39
Q

If the middle meningeal artery which supplies the dura mater is damaged, this can lead to a collection of blood called what?

  1. subdural haematoma
  2. extradural haematoma
  3. intracraniial haematoma
  4. subcranual haematoma
A
  1. extradural haematoma
    - occurs in ‘potential’ space between the skull and the outer protective lining that covers the brain (the dura mater)
40
Q

In between the endosteal and meningeal layer is a space, what are these spaces created in this space called?

  1. dural venous sinuses
    • subdural venous arterioles
    • pia venous sinuses
    • arachnoid venous sinuses
A
  1. dural venous sinuses
    - lined by endothelial cells
41
Q

In between the endosteal and meningeal layer is a space, called the dural venous sinuses. What is the main functions of theses sinuses?

A
  • drain blood and CSF from the brain into the cerebral veins
  • this blood ultimately drains into the internal jugular vein
42
Q

Of the dural sinuses, what are the 2 most superior of these?

A

1 - superior sagittal sinus

2 - inferior sagittal sinus

43
Q

What is the name given to where the superior and inferior sagittal sinuses meet?

A
  • confluence of sinuses
44
Q

Label the veins of the brain numbered 1-15?

A

1 - superior sagittal sinus

2 - inferior sagittal sinus

3 - straight sinus

4 - great vein of galen

5 - confluence of sinus

6 - transverse sinus

7 - sigmoid sinus

8 - internal jugular vein

9 - facial vein

10 - inferior petrosal sinus

11 - opthalmic vein

12 - cavernous sinus

13 - superior petrosal sinus

14 - internal cerebral veins

15 - basal vein of rosenthal

45
Q

What are the 2 main arteries of the brain that come in pairs making 4 main arteries?

  1. middle meningeal and internal carotid arteries
  2. vertebral and external carotid arteries
  3. sub-clavian and internal carotid arteries
  4. vertebral and internal carotid arteries
A
  1. vertebral and internal carotid arteries
46
Q

Which arteries do the vertebral and internal carotid arteries come from?

A
  • vertebral = right or left subclavian artery
  • internal carotid = common carotid artery
47
Q

The point where several arteries at the bottom (inferior) side of the brain meet before entering the brain is called what?

A
  • Circle of Willis
48
Q

Using the labels below, label the arteries of the brain numbered 1-10?

  • circle of willis
  • basilar artery
  • vertebral artery
  • posterior cerebral artery
  • middle cerebral artery
  • internal carotid artery
  • posterior inferior cerebellar artery
  • anterior cerebral artery
  • posterior communicating artery
  • anterior communicating artery
A
  1. internal carotid artery
  2. circle of willis
  3. basilar artery
  4. vertebral artery
  5. posterior inferior cerebellar artery
  6. posterior cerebral artery
  7. posterior communicating artery
  8. middle cerebral artery
  9. anterior communicating artery
  10. anterior cerebral artery
49
Q

Label the cranial bones, and list how many of each there are?

  • temporal (2 bones)
  • frontal (1 bone)
  • parietal (2 bones)
  • sphenoid (1 bone)
  • occipital (1 bone)
  • ethmoid (1 bone)
A
  1. 1 - frontal (1 bone)
  2. 2 - sphenoid (1 bone)
  3. 3 - ethmoid (1 bone)
  4. 4 - occipital (1 bone)
  5. 5 - temporal (2 bones)
  6. 6 - parietal (2 bones)
50
Q

Label the 14 facial bones and list how many of each type of bone there is?

  1. mandible (1 bone)
  2. nasal (2 bones)
  3. lacrimal (2 bones)
  4. palatine (2 bones)
  5. maxilla (2 bones)
  6. vomer (1 bone)
  7. inferior nasal concha (2 bones)
  8. zygomatic (2 bones)
A
  1. nasal (2 bones)
  2. lacrimal (2 bones)
  3. inferior nasal concha (2 bones)
  4. maxilla (2 bones)
  5. mandible (1 bone)
  6. vomer (1 bone)
  7. zygomatic (2 bones)
  8. palatine (2 bones)
51
Q

The scalp is the skin and subcutaneous tissue that covers the cranial vault. What does S.C.A.L.P stand for?

A
  • S = skin
  • C = connective tissue
  • A = adipose tissue
  • L = loose areolar tissue
  • P = pericranium
52
Q

In the image below what does the yellow part of the neurocranium represent?

  1. ethmoid bone
  2. sphenoid bone
  3. palatine bones
  4. inferior nasal concha
A
  1. sphenoid bone
53
Q

In the image below what does the red part of the neurocranium represent?

  1. ethmoid bone
  2. sphenoid bone
  3. palatine bones
  4. inferior nasal concha
A
  1. ethmoid bone
    - superior view
54
Q

In the image below what does the red part of the viscerocranium represent?

  1. ethmoid bone
  2. sphenoid bone
  3. palatine bones
  4. inferior nasal concha
A
  1. inferior nasal concha (think conk for nose)
55
Q

What bone is visible in the image below that is part of the viscerocranium?

  1. ethmoid bone
  2. sphenoid bone
  3. palatine bones
  4. inferior nasal concha
A
  1. palatine bones
    - remember palatoine are either side of the oral cavity
56
Q

What bone is labelled in the image below that is part of the viscerocranium?

  1. ethmoid bone
  2. vomer
  3. palatine bones
  4. inferior nasal concha
A
  1. vomer
    - vomer for ploushare as it resembles the front of the plough that cuts
57
Q

What is the pterion?

A
  • area of confluence (junction/joining)
  • frontal, parietal, squamous temporal and greater wing of sphenoid bones meet here
  • weakest part of the cranium following fusion
58
Q

What is the inion?

A
  • greek for nape of the neck
  • located at the base of the skull
  • projecting part of the occipital bone
  • provides attachment point for muscle and ligaments
59
Q

What is the glabella?

A
  • latin for smooth and hairless
  • located above and between the eyebrows
  • can be used to measure dehydration levels
60
Q

What are the superciliary arches?

A
  • bony ridge located above the eye sockets of all primates
  • think cillary is hairy so eyebrows
61
Q

What is a major cranial artery that passes through the foramen spinosum of the middle fossa?

  1. vertebral artery
  2. middle meningeal artery
  3. external carotid artery
  4. internal carotid artery
A
  1. middle meningeal artery
62
Q

Which blood vessel of the brain supplies the dura mater?

  1. vertebral artery
  2. middle meningeal artery
  3. external carotid artery
  4. internal carotid artery
A
  1. middle meningeal artery