How Many Facial Bones are There in the Skull of the Human Body

Introduction

There are 14 facial bones present in humans, which comprise 2 nasal bones, 2 palatine bones, 2 lacrimal bones, 2 zygomatic bones, 2 maxilla bones, 2 inferior nasal conchae, 1 vomer bone and a mandible in human body.

Types of Facial Bones

Maxilla

The viscerocranium's central, paired bone is called the maxilla. The midline fusion of the left and right maxilla forms the upper jaw. A cranial suture known as the intermaxillary suture runs between the two maxillae. Several components make up the maxilla: The maxillary sinus, infraorbital foramen, and incisive foramen are significant aspects of the maxilla. The maxilla's primary job is to secure the upper teeth in place.

The maxilla is the middle, paired bone of the viscerocranium (it is the term used to describe parts of the skull that are not connected to the brain). The upper jaw is formed by the midline fusion of the left and right maxillae (a human or other mammalian upper jaw in which the bony components are tightly united). The intermaxillary suture is a cranial suture that connects the two maxillae. The maxilla is made up of several parts: The maxilla includes the maxillary sinus, infraorbital foramen, and incisive foramen. The primary function of the maxilla is to hold the upper teeth in place.

Zygomatic bone

The upper lateral region of the face has a pair of irregularly shaped bones called zygomatics. It is also known as the 'cheekbone' because it creates the lateral prominences of the face. The frontal, maxillary, and temporal processes are among the three that make up the zygomatic bone. The frontal bone, sphenoid bone, temporal bone, and maxilla are all articulated with the zygomatic bone by their processes.

The zygomatic arch is the most significant aspect of the zygomatic bone. The zygomatic process of the temporal bone and the temporal process of the zygomatic bone combine to form this arch. The arch's primary purposes are to provide attachment points for the masticatory muscles and to shield the eyes from direct blows (temporalis and masseter).

Lacrimal bone

The viscerocranium (it is the term used to describe parts of the skull that are not connected to the brain)lacrimal bone is the tiniest and most delicate bone. It is a pair of oblong bones located in the medial wall of the orbit's anterior portion. Lacrima, from the Latin word for "tear," is how the bone is referred to the neighboring lacrimal structures. The bone has four edges and two surfaces (lateral and medial) (anterior, posterior, superior and inferior). The lacrimal bone's primary role is to support the components of the lacrimal apparatus, which secretes and drains tears. In addition, the orbicularis oculi muscle attaches to the lacrimal bone.

Inferior nasal concha

The inferior nasal concha is the longest and widest of the three nasal conchae. The inferior nasal concha is a distinct bone from the middle and superior nasal conchae. A bony plate called the inferior nasal concha is situated on the nasal cavity's lateral wall. Participating in the development of the middle and inferior nasal meatus is the inferior nasal concha's primary job. The greatest area of the nasal cavity is called the inferior nasal meatus, which is located just beneath the inferior nasal concha. The majority of the airflow direction, humidification, heating, and filtering of air inhaled by the nose is controlled by it.

Palatine bone

A pair of L-shaped bones called the palatine bones are situated behind the nasal cavity. To be more precise, the bone sits between the maxilla and sphenoid bones. The horizontal and perpendicular plates that make up the palatine bone distinguish it most. The palatine bone contributes to the development of several significant structures because of the numerous links it has with the neighboring bones:

The oral cavity's posterior hard palate comprises a horizontal plate. The pterygoid process (a process extending downward from each side of the sphenoid bone in humans and other mammals) of the sphenoid bone is bordered by the perpendicular plate, which contributes to the lateral wall of the nasal cavity. Through the orbital process located at the superior end of the perpendicular plate, the palatine bone also contributes to a tiny amount of the orbital floor.

Nasal bone

The frontal processes of the maxillae are medial to the paired, rectangular nasal bone. The left and right nasal bones unite in the midline via the internasal suture. The bone has 4 borders and 2 surfaces which establish several connections with the surrounding bones. The nasal bone's primary purposes are to form the nasal bridge and the nasal aperture and to shield the nasal chamber from outside influences.

Palatine bone

A pair of L-shaped bones called the palatine bones are situated behind the nasal cavity. To be more precise, the bone sits between the maxilla and sphenoid bones. The horizontal and perpendicular plates that make up the palatine bone distinguish it most. The palatine bone contributes to the development of several significant structures because of the numerous links it has with the neighboring bones:

The oral cavity's posterior hard palate comprises a horizontal plate. The pterygoid process of the sphenoid bone is bordered by the perpendicular plate, which contributes to the lateral wall of the nasal cavity. Through the orbital process located at the superior end of the perpendicular plate, the palatine bone also contributes to a tiny amount of the orbital floor.

Vomer

The second unpaired bone of the viscerocranium, located in the midsagittal line, is called the vomer. It is a horizontal bone plate that is vertically positioned in the nasal cavity. The vomer constitutes the bony component of the nasal septum. It divides the left and right sides of the nose, together with the ethmoid bone. More specifically, the vomer makes up the inferior third of the bony nasal septum, whereas the perpendicular plate of the ethmoid bone makes up the superior two-thirds. The nasal cartilage forms the anterior section of the nasal cavity.

Conclusion

The skeletal structure of the head found in animals is called the skull, and it has 14 facial bones. It serves as a unit to protect the brain and several sensory organs and is composed either of bones or cartilage. The upper jaw is part of the skull, but not the lower. The human skull, which contains the brain, is larger and more spherical than the face. The zygomatics are a pair of atypically formed bones in the face's upper lateral region. The zygomatic bone comprises three different processes, including the frontal, maxillary, and temporal processes. The zygomatic arch is the most significant aspect of the zygomatic bone. To form the zygomatic process of the temporal bone, the temporal process of the zygomatic bone unites with it. In comparison to the middle and superior nasal conchae, the inferior nasal concha is a separate bone.

On the lateral wall of the nasal cavity is a bony plate known as the inferior nasal concha. The inferior nasal concha's primary function is to aid in developing the middle and inferior nasal meatus. The main functions of the nasal bone are to create the nasal bridge and the nasal aperture and to protect the nasal chamber from external factors. Palatine bones The palatine bones are a pair of L-shaped bones that are located behind the nasal cavity. The palatine bone can be distinguished primarily by its horizontal and perpendicular plates. Due to the various connections it has with other important structures, the palatine bone helps to shape several important structures.