Bones of the face
Skeletal system
Bone is the hardest structure in the body; it protects the underlying structures and supports the softer tissues. The bones also give shape to the body. Internal organs are suspended from some of these bone structures, which keep them securely in position.
Some of the internal organs are surrounded with a cage of bone that protects them. Bone also provides an attachment point for the muscles, which therefore allow movement. Many blood cells are made inside the bone – this is known as bone marrow.
Bones tend to be different shapes according to what they do.
The shape and structure of the head
The shape of the face and head are largely determined by:
- the bone structure of the skull
- the muscles covering the bones of the face.
The brain is protected by the skull. The skull consists of two parts – the cranium and the face. There are eight bones in the cranium and fourteen in the face. The only movable bone in the skull is the lower jaw (mandible).
Bones of the head
Bones of the face and upper torso powerpoint
Cranium
There are eight flat bones forming the cranium, which surrounds the brain. They are held together by connective tissue. These bones are slightly curved and are thin.
The frontal bone – forehead
This forms the front part of the roof of the skull, the forehead and the upper wall of the eye sockets.
The two parietal bones – the crown
These form the sides and roof of the cranium.
The two temporal bones – sides of the head
These form the lower region and sides of the cranium, around the ears.
The occipital bones – lower part of cranium
This forms the back and base of the cranium. Contains a large hole (foramen magnum) the spinal cord, blood vessels and nerves pass through.
The sphenoid – back of eye sockets
This forms the anterior part of the cranium base. It is bat shaped with wings on either side forming the temples.
The ethmoid bones – between eye sockets
This forms the part of the nasal cavities.
Bones of the face
The face (14)
The facial bones form the facial features, as well as support structures such as the teeth and eyes.
- The two nasal bones – nose
These bones form the bridge of the nose.
- The two maxillae – upper jaw
These form the upper jaw, the side walls of the nose and part of the roof of the mouth.
- The two palatine bones – nose
These form the side walls of the nose and its walls, and the roof of the mouth.
- The two lacrimal bones – eye sockets
These form the inner walls of the eye socket (contains a small groove for the eye socket).
- The two nasal bones – nose
These form the bridge of the nose.
- The two turbinate bones – nose
These form the outside of the nose.
- The vomer bone (1) – nose
This forms part of the nasal septum (the dividing bony wall of the nose).
- The mandible (1) – lower jaw
This is the only movable facial bone and forms the lower jaw (this is the strongest and largest facial bone).
Bones of the neck
The hyoid (1) – U shaped bone at the front of the neck
This supports the tongue.
Clavicle (2)
The collar bone base of the neck, long slender bones.
These allow movement of the shoulder forming a joint with the scapula and sternum bones.
The vertabrae
The spinal column extends from the skull down to the pelvis it provides the body with a central flexible axis.
It also protects the nerve pathway of the spinal cord, provides a surface for muscle attachments.
The vertebrae is made up of 33 bones which are all irregular and individual. As the bottom of the vertebrae, the sacrum and coccyx are fused together, there are only 24 movable bones; they consist of:
The cervical vertebrae (7) – neck
This is the part of the vertebrae which forms the top of the spine. The ATLAS – the first vertebrae supports the skull, the second vertebrae – AXIS allows the head to rotate.
The Hyoid Bone
The Hyoid bone is in the front of the neck, just below the mandible, carrying the weight of the tongue and has an important role in speech and swallowing. It is a small horseshoe shaped bone, behind the 4th cervical vertebrae.
