Superficial face

• What is the overview of the superficial face related to?

  It includes the skull, muscles of facial expression, and neurovascular structures.
• What are the main bones visible in the anterior view of the skull?

  • Frontal bone
  • Parietal bone
  • Sphenoid bone
  • Temporal bone
  • Zygomatic bone
  • Maxilla and vomer
  • Mandible
• Which processes are associated with the temporal bone in the skull?

  Mastoid process and styloid process.
• What bones make up the calvaria of the skull?

  • Temporal bones (paired)
  • Parietal bones (paired)
  • Frontal bone
  • Sphenoid bone
  • Occipital bone
• What bones constitute the floor of the cranial cavity?

  • Sphenoid bone
  • Temporal bone
  • Occipital bone (unpaired)
• What are the components of the facial skeleton?

  • Nasal bones
  • Palatine bones
  • Lacrimal bones
  • Zygomatic bones
  • Maxillae
  • Nasal conchae
  • Vomer (unpaired)
  • Mandible
• What is the pterion and which bones does it involve?

  Pterion is the junction of the parietal, squamous temporal, frontal, and zygomatic bones.
• What is the asterion and which bones does it involve?

  Asterion is the junction of the parietal, occipital, and mastoid temporal bones.
• What are the main sutures visible in the superior view of the skull?

  • Coronal suture
  • Sagittal suture
  • Lambdoidal suture
• What structures are identified in the posterior view of the skull?

  • Sagittal suture
  • Lambdoidal suture
  • Lambda
• What is the cranial cavity and what does it accommodate?

  The cranial cavity is the space accommodating the brain and can be split into 3 fossae.
• What are the three cranial fossae and their associated bones?

  • Anterior: Frontal, ethmoid, part of sphenoid bone (Frontal lobe)
  • Middle: Part of parietal, temporal, sphenoid bone (Parietal lobe)
  • Posterior: Occipital, part of sphenoid and parietal bone (Cerebellum)
• What foramina are found in the anterior cranial fossa?

  • Cribiform plate
  • Foramen cecum
  • Anterior ethmoidal foramen
  • Posterior ethmoidal foramen
• What are the contents of the foramina in the middle cranial fossa?

  • Superior orbital fissure: Oculomotor, abducens, trochlear nerves, ophthalmic nerve, and veins
  • Optic canal: Optic nerve and ophthalmic artery
  • Foramen rotundum: Maxillary nerve
  • Foramen ovale: Mandibular nerve and lesser petrosal nerve
  • Foramen spinosum: Meningeal branch of mandibular nerve and middle meningeal artery
  • Foramen lacerum: Deep petrosal nerve
  • Carotid canal: Internal carotid artery
• What are the contents of the foramina in the posterior cranial fossa?

  • Internal acoustic meatus: Facial and vestibulocochlear nerves, labyrinthine arteries
  • Jugular foramen: Internal jugular vein, glossopharyngeal, vagus, and spinal accessory nerves
  • Hypoglossal canal: Hypoglossal nerve
  • Foramen magnum: Inferior end of medulla oblongata, spinal accessory nerves, and vertebral arteries
• What are the external cranial foramina and their connections?

  • Anterior foramina -> nasal cavity
  • Superior orbital fissure -> orbit
  • Optic canal -> orbit
  • Internal acoustic meatus -> external hypoglossal canal
• What are the groups of muscles of facial expression?

  • Orbital group
  • Nasal group
  • Oral group
  • Other group
• What is the function of the nasalis muscle?

  Flares the nares
• What is the function of the procerus muscle?

  Wrinkles the bridge of the nose.
• What is the function of the depressor septi nasi muscle?


  Flares the nares
• What is the facial nerve and its primary functions?

  • Mixed nerve
  • Motor: Muscles of facial expression, posterior belly of digastric, stylohyoid, and stapedius
  • General sensory: Skin over the ear
  • Special sensory: Taste
  • Parasympathetic: Salivary glands and lacrimal glands
• Where does the facial nerve exit the skull?

  Between the pons and medulla

  Large motor root and a smaller sensory root
• What happens to the facial nerve after it exits the internal acoustic meatus?

  Both roots enter the internal acoustic meatus with the vestibulocochlear nerve and travel through the petrous portion.
• What is the significance of the stylomastoid foramen for the facial nerve?

  The facial nerve exits through the stylomastoid foramen and gives 3 motor branches before piercing the parotid gland
• What occurs after the facial nerve pierces the parotid gland?

  Terminates into 5 branches
• What is the blood supply to the superficial face?

  • One of the main divisions of the common carotid artery
  • Arises at the level of the thyroid cartilage
  • Ascends the neck within the carotid sheath
  • Eight branches (the last two are terminating divisions)
• What are the muscles in the orbital group for facial expression?

  Orbicularis oculi

  Corrugator supercilii
• What does the corrugator superciis?

  Furrows eyebrows
• What does orbicularis oculi do?


  Closes eyelids
• What are the muscles involved in the nasal group for facial expression?

  Depressor septi nasi

  Procerus

  Nasalis
• What are the muscles in the superior oral group for facial expression?

  Risorius

  Zygomaticus major

  Zygomaticus minor

  Levator labii superioris

  Levator labii superioris alaeque nasi

  Levator anguli oris
• What does risoris do?


  Grin
• What does zygomaticus major and zygomaticus minor do?


  Smile
• What does levator labii superioris do?

  Deepens furrow between nose and corner of mouth
• WHat does levator labii superioris alaeque nasi do?


  Flares the nares
• What does the levator anguli oris do?


  Elevates the angle of the mouth
• What are the muscles in the inferior oral group for facial expression?

  Depressor anguli oris

  Depressor labii inferioris

  Mentalis
• What does depressor anguli oris do?


  Depresses corner of the mouth
• WHat does depressor labii inferioris do?

  Depresses lower lip and moves laterally
• What does mentalis do?

  Positiong lip when drinking

  Pout