Bones of the Cranial Vault Flashcards
7 cards from real Anatomy Exam practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Bones of the Cranial Vault flashcards as text
A fracture of the pterion is clinically dangerous because it overlies which artery?
Answer: Middle meningeal artery
The pterion is the thinnest part of the skull and overlies the anterior branch of the middle meningeal artery, rupture of which causes epidural hematoma.
The foramen magnum is located in which bone of the cranial vault?
Answer: Occipital bone
The foramen magnum is a large opening in the occipital bone through which the brainstem transitions into the spinal cord.
Which cranial bone contains the sella turcica?
Answer: Sphenoid bone
The sella turcica ('Turkish saddle') is a saddle-shaped depression in the body of the sphenoid bone that houses the pituitary gland.
Which of the following bones does NOT contribute to the cranial vault (calvaria)?
Answer: Nasal bone
The nasal bone is a facial bone and does not form part of the cranial vault, which is composed of the frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital, and parts of the sphenoid bones.
The squamous part of which bone forms a large portion of the lateral cranial vault?
Answer: Temporal bone
The squamous part of the temporal bone is the flat, fan-shaped portion that forms a significant part of the lateral wall of the cranium.
At birth, which fontanelle is the largest and located at the bregma?
Answer: Anterior fontanelle
The anterior fontanelle is the largest, diamond-shaped soft spot located at the bregma, normally closing by 18–24 months of age.
The occipital bone articulates with the parietal bones via which suture?
Answer: Lambdoid suture
The lambdoid suture connects the occipital bone to the two parietal bones, forming a lambda (Λ) shape at the back of the skull.