38 Introduction to Medical Terminology
Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
• The temporal (TEM-puh-ruhl) bones form the
sides and base of the cranium.
• The sphenoid (SFEE-noyd) bone forms part of
the base of the skull, and the fl oor and sides of
the eye sockets.
• The ethmoid (ETH-moyd) bone forms part of
the nose, eye socket, and fl oor of the cranium.
All facial bones except one are joined together by
sutures, making them immovable. The mandible,
or lower jawbone, is the only facial bone capable
of movement. It enables us to speak and chew.
other at joints called sutures. In newborns, the
cranial bones are not completely joined. Rather,
there are soft spots called fontanels (FAHN-tuh-
nelz) between the cranial bones. These soft spots
develop into bone in early infancy.
The cranium consists of the following bones:
• The frontal bone forms the forehead.
• The parietal (puh-RIGH-uh-tuhl) bones form
the roof and upper sides of the cranium.
• The occipital (ahk-SIP-ih-tuhl) bones form the
posterior fl oor and walls of the cranium.
Figure 2.7 The bones of the skull.
Frontal bone
Sphenoid bone
Temporal bone
Zygomatic bone
Parietal bone
Nasal bone
Lacrimal bone
Vomer
Parietal bone
Coronal suture
Squamous suture
Occipital bone
Lambdoidal suture
Anterior view
Lateral view
Mastoid process
Maxillary bone
Mandible
Frontal bone
Sphenoid bone
Temporal bone
Nasal bone
Zygomatic bone
Lacrimal bone
Ethmoid bone
Maxillary bone
Mandible
Palatine bone
Label
art