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.

The Temporalis Muscle

• This is an extensive fan-shaped muscle that covers the temporal region.
• It is a powerful masticatory muscle that can easily be seen and felt during closure of the mandible.

• Origin: floor of temporal fossa and deep surface of temporal fascia.
• Insertion: tip and medial surface of coronoid process and anterior border of ramus of mandible.
• Innervation: deep temporal branches of mandibular nerve (CN V³).

• The temporalis elevates the mandible, closing the jaws; and its posterior fibres retrude the mandible after protrusion.

• The palate has a rich blood supply from branches of the maxillary artery.

The Nasopharynx

• The nasal part of the pharynx has a respiratory function.
• It lies superior to the soft palate and is a posterior extension of the nasal cavity.
• The nose opens into the nasopharynx via to large posterior apertures called choanae.

• The roof and posterior wall of the nasopharynx form a continuous surface that lies inferior to the body of the sphenoid bone and the basilar part of the occipital bone.
• In the mucous membrane of the roof of the posterior wall of the nasopharynx is a collection of lymphoid tissue, known as the pharyngeal tonsil (commonly known as the adenoids).

• The pharyngeal orifice of the auditory tube is on the lateral wall of the nasopharynx, 1 to 1.5 cm posterior to the inferior concha, and level with the superior border of the palate.
• The orifice is directed inferiorly and has a hood-like tubal elevation over it called the torus of the auditory tube or the torus tubarius (L. torus, swelling).

• Extending inferiorly from the torus is a vertical fold of mucous membrane, known as the salpingopharyngeal fold.

• The collection of lymphoid tissue in the submucosa of the pharynx, posterior to the orifice of the auditory tube, is known as the tubal tonsil.

• Posterior to the torus and the salpingopharyngeal fold, there is a slit-like lateral projection of the pharynx called the pharyngeal recess.
• It extends laterally and posteriorly.

• This is the posterior curtain-like part, and has no bony support. It does, however, contain a membranous aponeurosis.
• The soft palate, or velum palatinum (L. velum, veil), is a movable, fibromuscular fold that is attached to the posterior edge of the hard palate.
• It extends posteroinferiorly to a curved free margin from which hangs a conical process, the uvula (L. uva, grape).

• The soft palate separates the nasopharynx superiorly and the oropharynx inferiorly.

• During swallowing the soft palate moves posteriorly against the wall of the pharynx, preventing the regurgitation of food into the nasal cavity.

• Laterally, the soft palate is continuous with the wall of the pharynx and is joined to the tongue and pharynx by the palatoglossal and palatopharyngeal folds.

• The soft palate is strengthened by the palatine aponeurosis, formed by the expanded tendon of the tensor veli palatini muscle.
• This aponeurosis attaches to the posterior margin of the hard palate.

-> This bone forms much of the base and posterior aspect of the skull.
-> It has a large opening called the foramen magnum, through which the cranial cavity communicates with the vertebral canal.
-> It is also where the spinal cord becomes continuous with the medulla (oblongata) of the brain stem.
-> The occipital bone is saucer-shaped and can be divided into four parts: a squamous part (squama), a basilar part (basioccipital part), and two lateral parts (condylar parts).
-> These four parts develop separately around the foramen magnum and unite at about the age of 6 years to form one bone.
-> On the inferior surfaces of the lateral parts of the occipital bone are occipital condyles, where the skull articulates with C1 vertebra (the atlas) at the atlanto-occipital joints.
-> The internal aspect of the squamous part of the occipital bone is divided into four fossae: the superior two for the occipital poles of the cerebral hemispheres, and the inferior two, called cerebellar fossae, for the cerebellar hemispheres.