•  Provides a rigid support system
• Protects delicate structures (e. g., the protection provided by the bones of the vertebral column to the spinal cord)
• Bones supply calcium to the blood; are involved In the formation of blood cells (hemopoiesis)
• Bones serve as the basis of attachment of muscles; form levers in the joint areas, aIlowing movement

Innervation of the Skin

• Innervation of the skin is mainly through the three branches of the trigeminal nerve (CN V).
• Some skin over the angle of the mandible and anterior and posterior of the auricle is supplied by the great auricular nerve from the cervical plexus.
• Some cutaneous branches of the auricular branch of the facial nerve also supplies skin on both sides of the auricle.

• The trigeminal nerve is the general sensory nerve to the head, particularly the face, and is the motor nerve to the muscles of mastication.

The Ophthalmic Nerve

• This is the superior division of the trigeminal nerve, the smallest of the three branches and is wholly sensory.
• The ophthalmic nerve divides into three branches: the nasociliary, frontal and lacrimal just before entering the orbit through the superior orbital fissure.

• The nasociliary nerve supplies the tip of the nose through the external nasal branch of the anterior ethmoidal nerve.

• The frontal nerve is the direct continuation of CN V¹ and divides into two branches, the supraorbital and supratrochlear.
• The supratrochlear nerve supplies the middle part of the forehead.
• The supraorbital nerve supplies the lateral part and the front of the scalp.

• The lacrimal nerve, the smallest of the main ophthalmic branches, emerges over the superolateral orbital margin to supply the lacrimal gland and the lateral part of the upper eyelid.

The Maxillary Nerve

• This is the intermediate division of the trigeminal nerve.
• It has three cutaneous branches.

• The infraorbital nerve is the largest terminal branch of the maxillary nerve.
• It passes through the infraorbital foramen and breaks up into branches that supplies the skin on the lateral aspect of the nose, upper lip and lower eyelid.

• The zygomaticofacial nerve, a small branch of the maxillary, emerges from the zygomatic bone from a foramen with the same name.
• It supplies the skin over the zygomatic bone.

• The zygomaticotemporal nerve emerges from the zygomatic bone from foramen of the same name.
• It supplies the skin over the temporal region.

The Mandibular Nerve

• This is the inferior division of the trigeminal nerve.
• Of the three division of the trigeminal nerve, CN V³ is the only one that carries motor fibres (to the muscles of mastication).
• The main sensory branches of the mandibular nerve are the buccal, auriculotemporal, inferior alveolar and lingual nerves.

• The buccal nerve is a small branch of the mandibular that emerges from deep to the ramus of the mandible.
• It supplies the skin of the cheek over the buccinator muscle, the mucous membrane lining the cheek, and the buccal surface of the gingiva.

• The auriculotemporal nerve passes medially to the neck of the mandible and then turns superiorly, posterior to its head and anterior to the auricle. It then crosses over the root of the zygomatic process of the temporal bone, deep to the superficial temporal artery.

• It supplies the auricle, external acoustic meatus, tympanic membrane, and the skin in the temporal region.

• The inferior alveolar nerve is the large terminal branch of the posterior division of the mandibular nerve (the lingual nerve is the other terminal branch).
• It enters the mandible through the mandibular foramen to the mandibular canal. In the canal, it gives branches to the mandibular teeth.
• Opposite the mental foramen, this nerve divides into the mental nerve and the incisive nerve.
• The incisive nerve supplies the incisor teeth, the adjacent gingiva and the mucosa of the lower lip.
• The mental nerve emerges from the mental foramen and supplies the skin of the chin and the skin and mucous membrane of the lower lip and gingiva.

• The lingual nerve is the smaller terminal branch of the mandibular nerve.
• It supplies the general sensory fibres to the anterior two-thirds of the tongue, the floor of the mouth and the gingivae of the mandibular teeth.

Histology

Histology is the study of tissues.

A tissue is a group of cells with similar structure and function plus the extracellular substances located between the cells.

There are four basic types of tissues:

- Epitheliums

- Connective tissue

- Muscle tissue

- Nervous tissue

• Articulations

  Classified according to their structure, composition,and movability
  •    Fibrous joints-surfaces of bones almost in direct contact with limited movement
      o    Syndesmosis-two bones united by interosseous ligaments
      o    Sutures-serrated margins of bones united by a thin layer of fibrous tissue
      o    Gomphosis-insertion of a cone-shaped process into a socket

  •    Cartilaginous joints-no joint cavity and contiguous bones united by cartilage
      o    Synchondrosis-ends of two bones approximated by hyaline cartilage
      o    Symphyses-approximating bone surfaces connected by fibrocartilage

  •    Synovial joints-approximating bone surfaces covered with cartilage; may be separated by a disk; attached by ligaments 
      o    Hinge-permits motion in one plane only
      o    Pivot-permits rotary movement in which a ring rotates around a central axis
      o    Saddle-opposing surfaces are convexconcave. allowing great freedom of motion
      o    Ball and socket - capable of movement in an infinite number of axes; rounded head of one bone moves in a cuplike cavity of the approximating bone

  Bursae
  •    Sacs filled with synovial fluid that are present where tendons rub against bone or where skjn rubs across bone
  •    Some bursae communicate with a joint cavity 
  •    Prominent bursae found at the elbow. hip, and knee'

  Movements
  •    Gliding
      o    Simplest kind of motion in a joint
      o    Movement on a joint that does not involve any angular or rotary motions
  •    Flexion-decreases the angle formed by the union of two bones
  •    Extension-increases the angle formed by the union of two bones
  •    Abduction-occurs by moving part of the appendicular skeleton away from the median plane of the body
  •    Adduction-occurs by moving part of the appendicular skeleton toward the median plane of the body
  •    Circumduction
      o    Occurs in ball-and-socket joints
      o    Circumscribes the conic space of one bone by the other bone
  •    Rotation-turning on an axis without being displaced from that axis
   

The Articular Capsule

• The capsule of this joint is loose.
• The thin fibrous capsule is attached to the margins of the articular area on the temporal bone and around the neck of the mandible.

Stylohyoid Muscle

• Origin: Posterior border of the styloid process of the temporal bone.
• Insertion: Body of the hyoid bone at the junction with the greater horn.
• Nerve Supply: Facial nerve (CN VII).
• Arterial Supply: Muscular branches of the facial artery and muscular branches of the occipital artery.
• Action: Elevates the hyoid bone and base of the tongue.