What are the 22 Bones of the Skull?

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The skull is composed of 22 bones, along with numerous cartilage and ligaments.

  • All the skull bones except the mandible are joined together.
  • If the auditory ossicles (Bones in the ears) are also included, then the number of bones in the skull is 28.
  • The skull protects the brain and is also known for supporting the other tissues of the head.

Skull Bone Anatomy

The 22 bones of the skull are categorized into two main segments

  • Cranial bones: Consists of 8 bones
  • Facial skeletal bones: Consists of 14 bones
Skull bone anatomy
Skull bone anatomy

List of Cranial Bones

The different cranial bones present in the skull are listed below

  • Ethmoid -1x
  • Occipital -1x
  • Frontal -1x
  • Sphenoid-1x
  • Parietal -2x
  • Temporal -2x

List of Facial Bones

The different facial bones present in the skull are listed below

  • Inferior nasal concha -2x
  • Lacrimal -2x
  • Mandible -1x
  • Nasal -2x
  • Maxilla -2x
  • Zygomatic -2x
  • Platine -2x
  • Vomer -1x

List of Ear Bones (Auditory Ossicles)

The different ear bones are listed below

  • Incus -2x
  • Malleus -2x
  • Stapes -2x

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Things to Remember

  • The skull is comprised of 22 bones.
  • They are classified into two groups: Cranial and Facial skeletal bones.
  • Cranial consists of 8 bones, while facial skeletal consists of 14 bones.
  • Except for the mandible, all the skull bones are joined together.
  • If ear bones are also included, then skull bones comprise 28 bones.

Sample Questions

Ques. What is the bone of the skull? (2 Marks)

Ans. The skull is a complex bony structure made up of 22 bones that are interconnected by sutures. These sutures allow for some movement of the skull bones during childbirth and can fuse together as a person ages. 

Ques. What are Ear Ossicles? (2 Marks)

Ans. The middle ear consists of three tiny bones i.e., Malleus, Incus, and Stapes, and are collectively known as Ear Ossicles. It plays an essential role in hearing. Its function is to transmit and amplify sound and to convert sound waves into pressure waves in the perilymph and endolymph.

Ques. What is the role of the Pectoral and Pelvic girdle bone? (2 Marks)

Ans. The pectoral girdle allows a range of mobility at the shoulder and stabilizes the upper limbs on the thorax. Malformations impair these functions and eventually distort the appearance of the upper back and chest. By articulating with the spine, the pelvic girdle transfers upper body weight to the lower limbs.

Ques. What is the skeletal system? (2 Marks)

Ans. Bones and cartilage constitute the skeletal system which is divided into axial and appendicular. The axial skeleton consists of the skull, vertebral column, ribs, and sternum while limb bones and girdles form the appendicular skeleton.

Ques. Define nasal fracture. (2 Marks)

Ans. Due to the prominent position of the nasal bones at the bridge of the nose, it is the most common facial fracture. Breaks or fractures in the nose are most commonly found on the bridge of the nose or in the septum, which separates your nostrils.

Ques. What is Zygomatic bone? (2 Marks)

Ans. Zygomatic is a bone that forms the cheekbones of the face and articulates with the frontal, sphenoid, temporal, and maxilla bones. Protection of the eye, origin for the masseter, and providing articulation for the mandible are the functions of the Zygomatic arch.

Ques. Which is the largest bone present in the skeleton of a human? (1 Mark)

Ans. The largest bone present in the human skeleton is the femur. It's also commonly referred to as the thighbone.

Ques. Describe the structure of the bones. (2 Marks)

Ans. Bones have two key types of tissue: compact bone, a dense outer layer forming a strong shaft that comprises 80% of bone mass, and cancellous bone, a lighter but supportive spongy tissue found at the ends, making up the remaining 20%.

Ques. In a human body, how many bones are there? (2 Marks)

Ans. Newborn babies have around 270 bones. Over time, some of these bones fuse together, leaving adults with 206 separate bones (not including the many small sesamoid bones). The stapes in the middle ear are the smallest bone, while the femur, or thigh bone, is the largest.

Ques. Name some diseases of the skeletal system. (2 Marks)

Ans. The diseases of the skeletal system include the following:

  • Osteoporosis
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Muscular Dystrophy
  • Tetany
  • Gout

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