SKELETAL SYSTEM

SKELETAL SYTEM

BASIC
COMPONENTS: FUNCTIONS:
• Bones/Osseous • Strength, Support
Tissues Shape
• Joints/Articulations • Leverage for
movement
• Cartilage
• Blood Cell production
• Protection of Organs
 • Bone is a tough and rigid form of connective tissue. It is the
weight bearing organ of human body and it is responsible for
almost all strength of human skeleton.
Bones:

• Cartilage is also a form of connective tissue but is not as

tough and rigid as bone. The main difference in the cartilage
and bone is the mineralization factor. Bones are highly
Cartilages: mineralized with calcium salts while cartilages are not.

• Joints are important components of human skeleton

because they make the human skeleton mobile. A joint
occurs between “two or more bones”, “bone and cartilage”
Joints: and “cartilage and cartilage”.
Mechanical Functions of bones:

PROTECTION MOVEMENT SHAPE

Synthetic Functions of Bones:
Synthesis of Blood Cells
• The major synthetic role of bones is to produce
blood cells.
• The bones themselves are not capable of
doing this. Instead, they house the bone
marrow, which contains Hematopoietic stem
cells, capable of producing blood cells.
•The red marrow in adults and older
individuals is restricted to vertebrae and
heads of tibia and femur.
 Metabolic Functions of Bones

Mineral Role in acid-

Fat storage:
Storage: base balance:

Bones serve Bone buffers

as an the blood
important The yellow against
store house bone marrow excessive pH
of long bones
of minerals changes by
act as a absorbing or
such as
storage of fats. releasing
calcium and
phosphorus. alkaline salts
 DIVISIONS OF A HUMAN
SKELETON
AXIAL APPENDICULAR

•SKULL •SHOULDER
GIRDLE
•VERTEBRAL
•SKELETONS OF
COLUMN THE UPPER LIMB
•RIB CAGE •PELVIC GIRDLE
•SKELETONS OF
THE LOWER LIMB
What is a BONE?

•a dense type of connective tissue impregnated with

inorganic salts mainly the salts of calcium such as
calcium phosphate, calcium carbonate etc.
•The organic portion of the bone constitutes one third
(1/3) and the inorganic salt component constitutes
two third (2/3).
•Its rigidity and hardness, it provides the strength and
form necessary to keep human body in its shape and
also protects the delicate organs vital for life.
YOUNG BONE
OSSIFICATION
• Ossifies in three parts: the two ends and one shaft.
• The ends ossify from secondary centers of ossification
while the shaft ossifies from primary center of
ossification.
CENTERS
• Primary center of ossification is the center
where the process of ossification starts first of
all.
•Secondary centers of ossification are the
centers where the process of ossification starts
after the primary center.
STRUCTURE OF THE BONE
•DIAPHYSIS
•The bone’s shaft or body;
•long cylindrical main portion of the bone
•EPIPHYSES
•The distal and proximal ends of the bone
•METAPHYSES
•The regions in a mature bone where the
diaphysis joins the epiphyses
Types of EPHYSIS:
Pressure epiphyses:
• are articular that is they take part in joint formation
• are the weight transmitting epiphyses
Traction epiphyses:
• non-articular and do not take part in the formation of
joints
• do not take part in transmission of weight
• The actual job is to provide attachment to tendons of
muscles.
• ossify later than the pressure epiphyses.
Types of EPHYSIS:
Atavistic epiphyses:
•phylogenetically independent but they
become fused in man.
Aberrant epiphyses:
• As the name indicates (aberrant = not
usual) these epiphyses are not always
present.
STRUCTURE OF THE BONE
• ARTICULAR CARTILAGE
• Thin layer of hyaline cartilage covering the epiphysis where
the bone forms an articulation with another bone; reduces
friction of bones; absorbs shock at freely movable joints
• PERIOSTEUM
• Tough sheath of dense irregular connective tissue that
covers all bones with the exception of articular surface.
• MEDULLARY CAVITY
• Central cavity extending longitudinally in the shafts of the
long bones
• Contains BONE MARROW

• ENDOSTEUM
• Thin membrane that lines the medullary cavity
TYPES OF BONE MARROW

RED MARROW
•Found in the medullary cavities of long
bones
•Forms blood cells (RBC and some WBC)
YELLOW MARROW
•Replaces red marrow in long bones of
adults
•Contains FAT (triglycerides)
 HISTOLOGY OF BONE TISSUE

50%
25% TYPES
CRYSTALLIZED
25% WATER COLLAGEN OF BONE
MINERAL
FIBERS CELLS
SALTS

Hydroxiapatite
(abundant • Osteogenic
inorganic mineral Cells
salts)
• Osteoblasts
• Osteocytes
• Osteoclasts
Types of Cells in Bone
Osteocytes
•are mature bone cells.
•The spaces they occupy are known as
lacunae.
•Their functions include:
•formation of bone
•maintenance of matrix
•homeostasis of Calcium
Types of Cells in Bone
Osteoblasts
• are bone-building cells that descend from
osteoprogenitor cells.
• They form a protein mixture known as osteoid, which
mineralizes to become bone. Osteoid is primarily
composed of Type I collagen.
• also manufacture hormones, such as prostaglandins, to
act on the bone itself.
• They robustly produce alkaline phosphatase, an
enzyme that has a role in the mineralization of bone, as
well as many matrix proteins.
• All bone lining cells are osteoblasts.
Types of Cells in Bone
Osteoclasts
•are the cells responsible for bone resorption
and remodelling.
•large, multinucleated cells located on bone
surfaces in what are called Howship’s lacunae
or resorption pits.
• These lacunae, or resorption pits, are left behind
after the breakdown of the bone surface.
OSSIFICATION OF
BONES
OSSIFICATION
•the process by which bone is formed.
•The formation of bone is in fact
conversion of other types of connective
tissues into bone.

TYPES OF BONE CONVERSION

•Intra-membranous
•Intra-cartiliganous
•Combination
OSSIFICATION
Intra-membranous ossification:
•This type of ossification is also known as
mesenchymal ossification.
•In this type the bone is ossified from
mesenchymal condensations.
•The bones formed by this process of
ossification are known as membranous
bones or dermal bones.
OSSIFICATION
Intra-cartilaginous ossification:
•In this type of ossification, the mesenchyme
has been converted to cartilaginous models
and the process of ossification starts in these
cartilaginous models.
•The process of conversion of mesenchymal
condensations in cartilage is known as
chondrification and this process takes place
during the second month of intrauterine life.
•Cartiliganous Bones
OSSIFICATION
Combination:
• this type of ossification in which a bone
partly ossifies from membrane and partly
from cartilage.
• These bones are known as membro-
cartilaginous bones.
 PROCESS OF OSSIFICATION

Centers
Osteo Laying
of Primary Secondary
centers down of
ossifica blasts centers lamellae
tion
Growth in Length
A long bone grows in length my
multiplication of cells in the epiphyseal
plate of cartilage.

The cartilage cells divide and increase

in number.

Eventually these cartilage cells are

replaced by osteocytes (bone cells),
thus increasing the length of the bone.
Growth in Thickness
A long bone grows in thickness by
multiplication of cells in the
deeper layer of periosteum.

The cells lying in the deeper layer

of periosteum are known as
osteoblasts (bone forming cells).

These cells divide continuously

and form the osteocytes, thus
increase the thickness of bone.
REMODELLING
for bone
process

SEQUESTRUM
for dead
bones

INVOLUCRUM
for
necrose
 • The process of reshaping the bone
is called remodeling and it is one of
REMODELING the major factors responsible for
increasing size of marrow cavity.

deposition of new bony

tissue on the surface
and at the ends

appositional growth or
Osteoclasts remove the
surface accretion by
unwanted bone
osteoblasts.

appositional growth
can result in shape
alterations.
 PARTS OF AN ADULT BONE
SHAFT
It is the long middle part of an adult human
long bone. It is composed of periosteum,
cortex and a medullary cavity from outside to
inside.

• Periosteum is thick fibrous membrane

covering the surface of the bone.
• Two layers:an outer fibrous layer and an inner
osteogenic (bone producing) cellular layer.
• This attachment of bone and the periosteum is
specifically strong over the attachments of
tendons and ligaments.
 PARTS OF AN ADULT BONE
SHAFT
• The cortex is actually the compact part of
the long bone. The strength of the bone
which makes it capable to withstand all
the stresses is mainly due to this cortex.
• The medullary cavity is the central
portion of a long bone that is filled with
red or yellow bone marrow.
 PARTS OF AN ADULT BONE
ENDS
•The ends of long bone are actually not
compact as the shaft.
•They are made up of spongy
(cancellous) bone.
• In cancellous bone the bone substance to
bone spaces ratio is a smaller quantity.
• This means that there is little bony tissue
and more empty spaces in this portion of
the bone.
TYPES OF BONES
SHAPE
DEVELOPMENT
REGION
STRUCTURE
SHAPE
•Long bones
•Short bones
•Flat bones
•Irregular bones
•Pneumatic bones
•Sesamoid bones
LONG BONES
•These bones typically have an elongated
shaft and two expanded ends one on
either side of the shaft.
• The shaft is known as diaphysis and the ends
are called epiphyses.
• Normally the epiphyses are smooth and
articular.
• The shaft has a central medullary cavity
where lies the bone marrow.
•CATEGORIES: Typical, Miniature,
Modified
LONG BONES Categories
Typical long
bones:
•have an elongated
shaft and two ends
and are
represented by
bones such as
humerus, femur,
radius, ulna, tibia
and fibula.
LONG BONES Categories
Miniature long bones:
• these bones have a
miniature appearance
and often they have
only one epiphysis.
• Examples of this class
of long bones are
metacarpals,
metatarsals and
phalanges of both
upper and lower limb.
LONG BONES Categories
Modified long bones:

• These bones either have modified shaft or

ends. They have no medullary cavity which is
present in the typical long bones.
• Examples of this class of bones are clavicle
and body of vertebrae.
SHORT BONES

• These bones are short in posture and can be of

any shape. Most of them are named according to
their shape.
• Examples of this class of bones include cuboid,
cuneiform, scaphoid, trapezoid etc.
• All the carpal and tarsal bones are included in this
category.
FLAT BONES
• These bones are flat in
appearance and have
two prominent
surfaces.
• They resemble
shallow plates and
form boundaries of
certain body cavities.
• Examples include
scapula, ribs, sternum
etc.
IRREGULAR BONES
• The shape of these
bones is completely
irregular and they
do not fit into any
category of shape.
• Examples of this
type of bones are
vertebrae, hip bone
and bones in the
base of skull.
PNEUMATIC BONES

• Also categorized under the irregular bones

because they are also irregular in
• The characteristic difference is the presence of
large air spaces in these bones which make them
light in weight and thus they form the major
portion of skull in the form of sphenoid, ethmoid
and maxilla.
SESAMOID BONES
• These are not like the other
types of bones because
they are in the form of
nodules embedded in
tendons and joint capsules.
• They do not possess any
periosteum and their
ossification also takes place
after birth.
• Examples of this type of
bones are patella, pisiform
and fabella.
 DEVELOPMENT
MEMBRANOUS BONES
CARTILAGONOUS BONES
MEMBROCARTILAGINOUS BONES
Membranous bones:
• These are also known as
dermal bones.
• The process by which they
ossify is called intra-
membranous ossification.
• These bones ossify from
mesenchymal
condensations in the
intrauterine life.
• Examples are bones of the
skull and facial bones.
Cartilaginous bones:
•These bones ossify from a cartilage model.
•This type of ossification is known as intra-
cartilaginous ossification.
•These bones do not form from mesenchymal
condensations but from preformed cartilage
models.
•Examples of this type of bones include bones
of limbs, vertebral column and thoracic cage.
Membrocartilaginous bones:
•These bones ossify partly from cartilage
and partly from mesenchymal
condensations.
• Examples of this class of bones include
clavicle, mandible, occipital, temporal and
sphenoid etc.
REGION
AXIAL
APPENDICULAR
AXIAL
• These bones form the
axial skeleton of
human body.
• Examples are bones
of skull, vertebral
column and thoracic
cage.
APPENDICULAR
•These bones form
the appendicular
skeleton of the
body.
•Examples of this
type of bones are
bones of the limbs
and girdles of
limbs.
STRUCTURE

•MACROSCOPIC
• Compact
• Spongy

•MICROSCOPIC
• Lamellar
• Fibrous
 MACROSCOPIC APPROACH
Compact Spongy
bone: bone:
The part of a bone where The part of a bone
bone substance to bone where bone substance
space ration is a bigger
quantity is called compact to bone space ratio is a
bone. smaller quantity.

This means that there is This means that there is

more bone tissue and more empty space and
less empty space. less bone tissue.
MICROSCOPIC APPROACH

Lamellar Fibrous
bone: bone:
The type of bone
which are composed These have more
of thin plates
(lamellae) of bony fibers in them.
tissue.

Most mature In humans they

human bones are are found only in
lamellar bones. fetus.
BLOOD SUPPLY OF BONES
•Bones receive blood supply from a
number of different sources, all of which
have their own importance.
•The sources include:
•Nutrient artery
•Epiphyseal arteries
•Periosteal arteries
•Metaphyseal arteries
Nutrient artery
• This artery enters the shaft through the nutrient foramen
and runs obliquely through the cortex.
• In the medullary cavity this artery divides into ascending
and descending branches.
• Each one of these two branches divides into parallel
channels that head towards the respective end of the
bone.
• At the place of metaphyses in case of adult bones these
branches anastomose with epiphyseal, metaphyseal and
periosteal arteries.
• The nutrient artery in this way nourishes the whole
medullary cavity and inner 2/3 of the cortex as well as
metaphyses.
Periosteal arteries:

•The arteries of periosteum being especially

numerous beneath the muscular and
ligamentous attachment.
• Beneath the periosteum they divide into
branches and thereby entering the
Volkmann’s canals to supply the outer one
third (1/3) portion of the cortex.
Epiphyseal arteries:
•These are the arteries of epiphyses and are
derived from the peri-articular vascular arcades
found on the non-articular bony surfaces.
•This area also has numerous foramina out of
which only few are the entrance points of these
arteries while the remaining are the venous exits.

Metaphyseal arteries:
•These arteries are derived from the neighboring
systemic vessels.
• These arteries directly go into the metaphyses
and reinforce the metaphyseal branches of the
primary nutrient artery.
NERVE SUPPLY OF BONES
•Most of the nerves coming to bones are
sympathetic and vasomotor in function.
•Furthermore, bones form important
sensory organs of the body to provide
useful information to the Central Nervous
System.
HILTON’s LAW
•Hilton’s law explains the pattern of
innervation of bones by the peripheral
nerves.
• According to this law, the nerve supplying a
muscle will also supply the underlying bone.
•Thus if a group of muscles over a bone
receive nerve supply from a specific nerve,
the bone, over which the muscles lie will also
be innervated by the same nerve.
Features of innervation of bones:
•Nerves accompany the blood vessels so if
you have to find the specific nerve
supplying a specific bone, you will have to
look for the nerves which accompany the
arteries and veins of a bone.
•Most of the nerves coming to a bone are
sympathetic and vasomotor in function.
•Some of the nerves are sensory and such
nerves are distributed to the articular ends
and periosteum of the bones.
THE SKULL
Bones of Skull
Skull: Anterior View
Skull: Lateral View
Skull: Posterior View
Skull: Inferior View
Cranial Cavity
Vault of Skull
Anterior Cranial Fossa
Midlle Cranial Fossa
Posterior Cranial Fossa
Neonatal Skull
Bones of Skull
• Skull is the skeleton of the head consisting of
the cranium and mandible.
• It encloses the brain and supports the face.
• Total number of bones in the skull is 22.
• Cranial part of the skull is composed of several
separate bones united at immobile joints called
sutures, which are held by sutural ligaments.
• Contrary to this, the mandible is united to the
cranium by a mobile synovial joint called the
temporomandibular joint.
Structure of skull bones:
• Skull bones are made up of external and internal tables
of compact bone separated by a layer of spongy bone
called the diploe.
• The internal table of compact bone is thinner and more
brittle than the external table.
• The bones are covered on the outer and inner surfaces
with periosteum.
Divisions:
• Bones of skull can be divided into two groups:
• Bones of cranium
• Bones of Face.

• The vault of skull is the upper most part of the cranium

and the base of skull is the lower most part.
BONES of the CRANIUM BONES of the FACE
•Zygomatic bones (2)
•Frontal bone (1) •Maxillae (2)
•Parietal bones (2) •Nasal bones (2)
•Occipital bone (1) •Lacrimal bones (2)
•Temporal bones (2) •Vomer (1)

•Sphenoid bone (1) •Palatine bones (2)

•Inferior conchae (2)
•Ethmoid bone (1)
•Mandible (1)
Skull: Anterior View
•Frontal bone
•Orbit and its margins
•Nasal bones
•Maxillae
•Zygomatic bone
•Mandible
Frontal bone:
• Frontal bone forms the forehead, thus called the
bone of the forehead.
• It curves downwards and ends by making the upper
margins of the orbits.
• Medially, it articulates with the frontal processes of the
maxillae and the nasal bones.
• Laterally, it articulates with the zygomatic bone.
• Superciliary arches and the supraorbital notches or
foramina are the prominent features of the anterior view of
frontal bone.
• Frontal bone also contains the frontal air sinuses: the
hollow spaces lined with mucous membrane. These
spaces communicate with the nose and serve as
voice resonators.
 Orbit and its margins:
Orbit is the bony cavity containing the
eyeball. Its margins are formed in the
following way:

•Frontal bone (superiorly)

•Zygomatic bone (laterally)
•Maxilla (inferiorly)
•Processes of maxilla and frontal bone
(medially)
Nasal bones:
• The two nasal bones form the bridge of the
nose. Their lower borders (with the maxillae)
form the anterior nasal aperture.
Maxillae:
•The two maxillae form the following:
• The upper jaw
• The anterior part of the hard palate
• Part of the lateral walls of the nasal cavities
• Part of the floors of the orbital cavities

•The two bones meet in the midline at the

intermaxillary suture. Here they form the
lower margin of the nasal aperture.
Maxillae:
• Below the orbit, there is an infraorbital foramen
in each maxilla. The alveolar process of each
maxilla projects downward and together with
the fellow of the opposite side, it forms the
alveolar arch that carries the upper teeth.
• Within each maxilla there is a large pyramid
shaped cavity called the maxillary sinus. It is
lined with mucous membrane and is connected
with the nasal cavity. It serves as a voice
resonator.
Zygomatic bone:
• It forms the prominence of the cheek and part
of the lateral wall and floor of the orbital cavity.
On the medial side it articulates with the maxilla
and on the lateral side with the zygomatic
process of temporal bone (forming the
zygomatic arch).
• The zygomatic bone contains two foramina for
the zygomaticofacial and zygomaticotemporal
nerves.
Mandible:

•Mandible, commonly called the

lower jaw
•consists of a horizontal body and two
vertical rami.
Skull: Lateral View
• Frontal bone
• Parietal bones
• Parts of occipital and
temporal bones
• Greater wing of Sphenoid
bone
• Pterion
• Temporal and
Infratemporal fossae
• Inferior orbital fissure
• Pterygopalatine fossa
 • It forms the anterior part of the side of the skull and
Frontal bone: articulates with the parietal bone at the coronal
suture.

• Parietal bones form sides and roof of the cranium.

They articulate with each other in the midline at the
Parietal bones: sagittal suture, and with the occipital bone behind at
the lambdoid suture.

Parts of • At the side, the skull is completed by the squamous

occipital and part of the occipital bone.
• Parts of temporal bone are also involved, namely
temporal squamous, tympanic, mastoid process, styloid
process, and zygomatic process.
bones:
Greater wing • It forms part of the side of the skull, alongside parts
of occipital and temporal bones.
of sphenoid:

• It is the thinnest part of the lateral wall of the skull located

where the anteroinferior corner of the parietal bone articulates
Pterion: with the greater wing of the sphenoid bone.
• It is important clinically because the anterior division of the
middle meningeal artery and vein lie directly beneath it.

Temporal and • Temporal fossa is the shallow depression on the side

of the skull bounded by the temporal lines.
Infratemporal Infratemproal fossa is the irregularly shaped cavity
fossae: situated below and medial to the zygomatic arch.
 Inferior orbital fissure:
• It is a horizontal fissure
between the greater wing of
the sphenoid bone and the
maxilla. It leads forward into
the orbit.
Pterygopalatine fossa:
• It is a small space behind and
below the orbital cavity. It
communicates with other skull
components in the following
way:
• Laterally with the
infratemporal fossa through
the pterygomaxillary fissure
• Medially with nasal cavity
through the sphenopalatine
foramen
• Superiorly with the skull
through the foramen
rotundum
• Anteriorly with the orbit
through the inferior orbital
fissure
 Skull: Posterior View
•Posterior parts of the
occipital bone
•Squamous part of the
occipital bone
•Temporal bone
•External Occipital
Protuberance
•Superior Nuchal Lines
Posterior parts of parietal bones:
• The posterior parts of the two parietal bones along with the intervening
sagittal suture are prominent in the upper part of the posterior view of skull.

Squamous part of occipital bone:

• In the lower part of the posterior view, the parietal bones articulate with the
squamous part of the occipital bone at the lambdoid suture.

Temporal bone:
• On each side, the occipital bone articulates with the temporal bone.

External occipital protuberance:

• It is a roughened elevation in the midline of the occipital bone. It gives
attachment to muscles and nuchal ligament (ligamentum nuchae).

Superior nuchal lines:

• These are lines that extend from either side of the external occipital
protuberance laterally towards the temporal bone.
 Skull: Inferior View
•Hard palate
•Choanae
•Parts of sphenoid
bone
•Parts of temporal
bone
•Occipital condyles
•Various foramina
Hard Palate:
•Hard palate is formed by the palatine
process of the maxillae and the horizontal
plates of the palatine bone.
• Anteriorly, in the midline, is the incisive
fossa and foramen.
• Posterolaterally are the greater and
lesser palatine foramina.
Choanae:
• Choanae are the posterior nasal apertures. They
are present above the posterior edge of the
hard palate and are separated from each other
by the posterior margin of the vomer.
• They are bounded laterally by the medial
pterygoid plates of the sphenoid bone.
• The inferior end of the medial pterygoid plate is
prolonged as a curved spike, called the
pterygoid hamulus.
Parts of sphenoid bone:
Medial pterygoid plates:
• The medial pterygoid plates of the sphenoid bone form the lateral
boundaries of the Choanae.
Lateral pterygoid plates:
• The lateral pterygoid plates of the sphenoid form part of medial wall of
infratermporal fossa, and part of pterygoid fossa.
Greater wings of sphenoid:
• These are two strong processes, arising from the side of the body of
the sphenoid bone. Each is pierced by the large foramen ovale and the
small foramen spinosum.
Spine of sphenoid:
• At the apex of the greater wing, there is sharp downwardly directed
process, called the spine of sphenoid bone.
Various foramina:
• It is a funnel shaped opening immediately behind
the incisor teeth. The nasopalatine nerves and the
Incisive
foramen: spenopalatine artery pass through it.

• It is one of the larger foramina of the skull situated

in the posterior part of the sphenoid bone. It
Foramen
ovale: transmits many nerves and vessels.

• It is situated lateral to the foramen ovale. The

Foramen middle meningeal artery and vein pass through it.
spinosum:
 Various foramina:
• It is a triangular foramen located at the base of
the medial pterygoid plate. It transmits many
Foramen
lacerum: nerves and vessels.

• It is situated between the styloid and mastoid

processes of the temporal bone. It is in fact the
Stylomastoid termination of the facial canal and thus transmits the
foramen: facial nerve and stylomastoid artery.

• It is situated in front of the petrous part of temporal

bone. It transmits many important structures
Jugular including the vagus, glossopharangeal and accessory
foramen: nerves as well as the sigmoid sinus.
Parts of temporal bone:
• Mandibular fossa:
• It is the depression in the temporal bone that forms the upper articular
surface for the temporomandibular joint. Posteriorly, the mandibular fossa
is separated from the tympanic plate by a fissure called the
squamotympanic fissure. Through the medial end of this fissure, the
chorda tympani nerve exits from the tympanic cavity.
• Styloid process:
• The styloid process of the temporal bone projects downward and forward
from its inferior aspect.
• Petrous part of temporal bone:
• It contains the auditory apparatus. It also helps in formation of the
foramen lacerum.
• Tympanic plate:
• It is formed in part by the temporal bone. It forms the bony part of the
external auditory meatus.
Occipital condyles:
• Occipital condyles are the
undersurface facets of the
occipital bone that
function in articulation
with the superior facets of
the atlas vertebra.
Superior to the occipital
condyle of each side is the
hypoglossal canal for
transmission of the
hypoglossal nerve.
 Cranial Cavity
• Cranial cavity is the space formed inside the skull.
It contains the brain and its surrounding meninges,
portions of the cranial nerves, arteries, veins and
venous sinuses.
• The presence of cerebrospinal fluid makes a
cushion for safety of brain inside the cranial cavity.
• The cranial cavity is formed by fusion of 8 cranial
bones.
• The capacity of an adult human cranial cavity is
1200-1700 cm3
Vault of Skull | Cranial Vault
• Vault of skull, also known as the cranial vault, is
the space in the skull occupied by the brain.

• It is formed by the following bones:

• Frontal
• Parietal (two in number)
• Occipital
• Temporal (two in number)
• Sphenoid
• Ethmoid
Anterior Cranial Fossa

Anterior cranial fossa is the most anterior

of the three fossae in the base of the skull.
It is formed by the following bones:

•Orbital plates of the frontal bone

•The cribriform plate of ethmoid bone
•The lesser wings and the front of the
body of sphenoid bone
MIDDLE CRANIAL FOSSA
• Middle cranial fossa is the centermost of the
three fossae in the base of skull. It is narrow
medially and widens laterally to the sides of the
skull. It lodges the temporal lobes of the
cerebral hemispheres. It is formed by the
following bones:

• Body and greater wing of sphenoid bone

• Parts of temporal bone
• Parts of parietal bone
Posterior Cranial Fossa

•Posterior cranial fossa is the posterior-

most of the three fossae in the base of the
skull.
• It lodges the parts of the hindbrain,
namely, the cerebellum, pons and
medulla oblongata.