The skull, the skeleton of the head, is the most complex bony structure in the body because it:

1. Encloses the brain, which is irregular in shape;
2. Houses the organs of special senses for seeing, hearing, tasting, and smelling; and
3. Surrounds the openings in to the digestive and respiratory tracts.

• In the anatomical position, the skull is oriented so that the inferior margin of the orbit (eye socket) and the superior margin of the external acoustic meatus (auditory canal) are horizontal. This is called the orbitomenial plane (Frankfort plane).

• The term cranium (L. skull) is sometimes used when referring to the skull without the mandible (lower jaw), but the cranium is often used when referring to the part of the skull containing the brain.
• The superior part is the box-like structure called the calvaria (cranial vault, brain case); the remainder of the cranium, including the maxilla (upper jaw), orbits (eyeball sockets) and nasal cavities, forms the facial skeleton.
• The term skullcap (calotte) refers to the superior part of the calvaria, which is removed during autopsies and dissections. The inferior aspect of the cranium is called the cranial base.

Classified on functional Basis

Secretion ,Protection and waterproofing, Absorbtion, Transport, Sensory

Secretion

Glandular epithelium’s 3 types:

- Exocrine - with ducts

- endocrine - without ducts

- mixed exo-endocrine

Exocrine glands: One cell

- goblet cells

- In lining epitheliums of respiratory tract and GIT

- Secretes musin (protein) Musin + water = mucus, Mucus is a lubricant

More than one cell

 Simple:  Has a single duct,

• Acinar - mucus glands of the penile urethra
• Tubular - cripts of Lieberkuhn
• Coiled tubular - sweat gland
• Spiral tubular - Gland of Moll
• Branched tubular - mucous glands of the pyloric region
• Branched acinar - sebaceous gland in the skin

Compound

• Consists of a branched duct with numerous secretory end organs
• Compound tubular - Brünners glands
• Compound alveolar - mammary, prostate, pancreas, parotid
• Compound tubuloalveolar - submandibular-, sublingual salivary glands

Endocrine glands

Secrete directly into the blood

One cell :  mast cells,  in soft CT,  near capillaries,

secrete - heparin - histamine

More than one cell

Cells can be arranged in the following ways:

• Cords - adrenal glands, parathyroid, anterior pituitary
• anastomosing cords with dilated blood capillaries in-between
• Isles - pancreas
• Follicles - thyroid
• cells line a follicle filled with non-cellular material

Nerve Supply of the Muscles of the Orbit (pp. 715-6)

• Three cranial nerves supply the muscles of the eyeball; the oculomotor (CN III), trochlear (CN IV) and abducent (CN IV) nerves.
• All three enter the orbit via the superior orbital fissure.

• The trochlear nerve supplies the superior oblique muscle.
• The abducent nerve supplies the lateral rectus muscle.
• The oculomotor nerve supplies everything else.

• A mnemonic that is used is this formula for this strange sulfate: SO₄(LR₆)₃

Mylohyoid Muscle

• Origin: Mylohyoid line of the mandible.
• Insertion: Median raphe and body of the hyoid bone.
• Nerve Supply: Nerve to mylohyoid (branch of the trigeminal nerve, CN V3).
• Arterial Supply: Sublingual branch of the lingual artery and submental branch of the facial artery.
• Action: Elevates the hyoid bone, base of the tongue, and floor of the mouth; depresses the mandible.

Muscles Around the Eyelids

• The function of the eyelid (L. palpebrae) is to protect the eye from injury and excessive light. It also keeps the cornea moist.

The Orbicularis Oculi Muscle

• This is the sphincter muscle of the eye.
• Its fibres sweep in concentric circles around the orbital margin and eyelids.
• It narrows the eye and helps the flow of tears from the lacrimal sac.

• This muscle has 3 parts: (1) a thick orbital part for closing the eyes to protect then from light and dust; (2) a thin palpebral part for closing the eyelids lightly to keep the cornea from drying; and (3) a lacrimal part for drawing the eyelids and lacrimal punta medially.

• When all three parts of the orbicularis oculi contract, the eyes are firmly closed and the adjacent skin becomes wrinkled.
• The zygomatic branch of the facial nerve (CN VII) supplies it.

The Levator Palpebrae Superioris Muscle

• This muscle raises the upper eyelid to open the palpebral fissure.
• It is supplied by the oculomotor nerve (CN III).