CHAPTER 3 HEAD AND NECK ANATOMY

Basic knowledge of the skull, facial bones, jaws, and muscles of the head and neck region are fundamental for a Dental Technician. It is important to understand the relationship of the bones and muscles as they work together to provide support for the dentition (teeth) and movement for mastication (chewing).

STRUCTURE OF BONE

The bones of the human skeleton provide rigid support for muscles and skin, and serve to protect the easily injured organ systems of the body. Bone itself is a living, highly vascular tissue, which is made up of both inorganic (minerals) and organic (cells connective tissue fiber) elements. The inorganic component of bone serves as a warehouse for calcium and phosphorous, two essential minerals for the body.

Bone consists of a hard outer shell called cortical or compact bone and an inner spongy, porous portion referred to as cancellous bone (fig. 3-1). Within this cancellous area are the bone marrow spaces responsible for manufacturing blood cells. The majority of blood cells are made by the bone marrow found in the long bones, such as the femur or thigh bone.

A thin layer of connective tissue, called periosteum, surrounds each bone and provides nourishment through many vascular vessels. The periosteum also contains many nerve endings that respond to trauma with the sensation of pain. When a bone breaks, it is the periosteum that hurts, not the bone itself. When new bone is required, such as when a break occurs, it is the periosteum which provides the cells that make the new bone.

Bone can be classified as to how it develops, its location, and its shape. Membraneous bone forms from the periosteum in successive layers and is usually flat such as those of the skull. The long bones of the arms and legs are cartilaginous bones, which develop from cartilage.

BONES OF THE SKULL

The skull consists of 28 bones that form the framework of the head and provide protection for the

Figure 3-1.-Structure of a typical flat bone.

brain, eyes, and ears. It can be divided into two parts: the cranium and the bones of the face. The cranium is primarily involved in housing and protecting the brain. The bones of the face are a complex framework that helps to form facial features, the upper jaw (maxilla) and lower jaw (mandible). With the exception of the mandible and the bones of the inner ear, all skull bones are joined together firmly along seams called sutures. An example of sutures is shown in figure 3-2. Sutures are sometimes considered immovable; however, they do permit a small amount of movement and provide mechanical protection for the brain by absorbing much of the force if a blow to the head occurs.

The cranium is formed by eight cranial bones, which form the foundation for attachment of many of the muscles necessary for head movements and chewing. Figure 3-3 show the cranial bones, and Table 3-1 lists them as either single or paired bones.

Frontal Bone

The frontal bone forms the front part of the skull above the eyes, which includes the forehead and part of