Chapter 7, Problem 1WYL

What are the two groups of skull bones?

Summary Introduction

To determine:

The two categories of bones present in the skull.

Introduction:

The bones of the skeleton form an internal framework to support soft tissues, protect vital organs and bear the body’s weight. The skeletal system is divided into two parts-axial skeletons and the appendicular skeleton. The axial skeleton is composed of the bones along the central axis of the body, divided into three regions-skull, vertebral column, and the thoracic cage.

Explanation of Solution

The two categories of bones present in the skull are as follows:

• Cranial bones:

These bones form the rounded cranium, which surrounds and encloses the brain. It consists of eight bones-the unpaired ethmoid, frontal, occipital, and sphenoid bones, and the paired parietal and temporal bones. These bones also provide attachment sites for several jaws, head, and neck muscles.

• Facial bones:

These bones form the face. It consists of paired maxillae, nasal, lacrimal, zygomatic, palatine bones, inferior nasal conchae, and the unpaired vomer and mandible. These bones protect the entrances to the digestive and respiratory system as well as providing attachment sites for facial muscles.