Skip to main content
Biology LibreTexts

8.2.4: Face

  1. Last updated
  2. Save as PDF
  • Page ID
    53620

    • \( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \) \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)\(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)\(\newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\)

    Face

    Facial Bones

    The facial bones include the inferior nasal conchae (2, one right and one left), the lacrimal bones (2, one right and one left), the maxilla bones (2, one right and one left), the mandible bone (1), the nasal bones (2, one right and one left), the palatine bones (2, one right and one left), vomer bone (1), and zygomatic bones (2, one right and one left). There are therefore a total of 14 bones making up the face, all of which are paired bones (one right and one left) except for the vomer bone and the mandible bone.

    Diagram of the facial bones

    Rotating skull

    Above: Facial bones with the following views: (A) anterior view, (B) lateral view of the left side of the skull, (C) inferior view with the mandible removed, and (D) lateral view of the right side of the skull.

    Clinical Application: Deviated Septum

    Deviated septa are common. In more severe cases, a deviated septum can cause difficulty breathing, sinus infections, sleep apnea, snoring, repetitive sneezing, facial pain, nosebleeds, and mild to severe loss of the ability to smell. Although most commonly caused by impact trauma, it can also be a congenital disorder caused by compression of the nose during childbirth. Medications can temporarily relieve symptoms, but a minor surgical procedure, known as septoplasty, is necessary to completely cure the symptoms related to septal deviations.

    illustration of normal septum versus deviated septum

    Above: Illustration indicates the difference between a normal septum and a deviated septum. The septum is made up of the perpendicular plate of the ethmoid bone and the vomer bone.

    Markings of the Facial Bones

    Recall from Chapter 7: Introduction to the Skeletal System, that bones have markings including holes, passageways, basins, and projections. Before examining the specific markings of the facial bones, review the pertinent types of markings we will see when we examine the face markings:

    Type of Bone Marking

    Description of Bone Marking Type

    angle

    Sharp bony angulations which may serve as bony or soft tissue attachments.

    body

    Usually refers to the largest most prominent segment of bone.

    foramen

    (pl. foramina)

    A hole in a bone through which nerves and blood vessels pass.

    fossa (pl. fossae)

    A shallow depression in a bone surface.

    notch

    A depression in a bone which often, provides stabilization to an adjacent articulating bone.

    process

    (pl. processes)

    Bony projection, allow for muscle attachment.

    ramus (pl. rami)

    The curved part of a bone that gives structural support to the rest of the bone.

    Diagram of the markings of the facial bones

    Rotating skull

    Above: Markings of the facial bones with the following views: (A) anterior view, (B) lateral view of the left side of the skull, (C) inferior view with the mandible removed, and (D) lateral view of the right side of the skull.

    Marking

    Bone Marking is Part of

    Location

    Function

    alveolar process

    (3, one on each maxilla bone and one on the mandible)

    maxilla bones & mandible bone

    anterior skull & lateral skull

    entire region of the bone that forms the sockets for the teeth

    body (of the mandible)

    mandible bone

    anterior skull & lateral skull

    connects the right and left rami of the mandible; holds the alveolar process; entire horizontal region of the mandible including the chin

    condylar process

    (2, one right & one left)

    mandible bone

    lateral skull

    creates the hinge where the mandible articulates with the temporal bone (within the mandibular fossa)

    coronoid process

    (2, one right & one left)

    mandible bone

    lateral skull

    superior-pointing process anterior to the condylar process; the temporalis muscle attaches here

    frontal process

    (2, one right & one left)

    maxilla bones

    anterior skull & lateral skull

    articulates with the nasal bones, lacrimal bones, and frontal bone forming lateral aspects of the nose

    inferior orbital fissure

    formed by maxilla, zygomatic, and sphenoid bones

    anterior skull

    provide passage for nerves and blood vessels

    infraorbital foramen

    (2, one right & one left)

    maxilla bones

    anterior skull

    provide passage for paired (right and left) blood vessels (infraorbital arteries) and nerves (infraorbital nerves)

    lacrimal fossa

    (2, one right & one left)

    lacrimal bones

    lateral skull

    involved in draining tears from the eyes into the nasal cavities

    mandibular angle

    (2, one right & one left)

    mandible bone

    lateral skull

    inferior and posterior aspects of the mandible (right and left) where the body meets the rami

    mandibular notch

    (2, one right & one left)

    mandible bone

    lateral skull

    indentation between the condylar process and the coronoid process

    mandibular symphysis

    mandible bone

    anterior skull

    a ridge located medially on the mandible

    mental foramen

    (2, one right & one left)

    mandible bone

    anterior skull & lateral skull

    provides passage for blood vessels and nerves of the chin and lower lip; recall "mental" means "chin"

    orbit

    (2, one right & one left)

    formed by frontal, sphenoid, ethmoid, lacrimal, maxilla, and zygomatic bones

    anterior skull

    eye socket

    palatine process

    (2, one right & one left)

    maxilla bones

    inferior skull

    posterior-projecting processes of the maxilla bones forming the anterior aspect of the roof of the mouth; articulates with the palatine bones

    ramus (of the mandible)

    (2, one right & one left)

    mandible bone

    lateral skull

    regions of the mandible (right and left) connecting the body of the mandible, the condylar process, and the coronoid process

    temporal process

    (2, one right & one left)

    zygomatic bones

    anterior skull & lateral skull

    posterior-pointing process that articulates with the zygomatic process of the temporal bone

    zygomatic process

    (of maxilla bones)

    (2, one right & one left)

    maxilla bones

    anterior skull & lateral skull

    lateral-pointing processes that articulate with the right and left zygomatic bones

    Attributions (All Skull Sections)

    This page titled 8.2.4: Face is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Rosanna Hartline.

    1. Back to top
    • Was this article helpful?

    Recommended articles

    1. Article type
      Section or Page
      Author
      Rosanna Hartline
      License
      CC BY-NC-SA
      License Version
      4.0
    2. Tags
      This page has no tags.