Head

THE HEAD

Scalp, Skull & Cerebral Meninges

Brain & Cranial Nerves

THE SCALP

* The soft tissue covering of the calvaria (skullcap)

* Posteriorly, begins at the upper border of the neck >>> superiorly and anteriorly, to the forehead

* Laterally, descends to the upper border of the zygomatic arches

* 5 layers:

* Skin – sebaceous & sweat glands, arterial & venous network, lymphatics

* Connective tissue – thick extremely vascular layer; attaches the skin to the epicranial aponeurosis

* Epicranial aponeurosis – “galea”; solid fibrous layer that covers the calvaria; the frontalis and occipitalis inserts into it

* Layer of loose connective tissue – potential space upon which the 3 external layers of the scalp can move easily in response to contraction of muscles

* Pericranium or periosteal tissue – deepest layer; the periosteum of cranial bones

THE SKULL

* 2 major components:

1. CRANIUM – houses the brain; consists of 8 bones

2. SKELETON OF THE FACE – composed of 14 bones that are flattened, irregular, and immovably joined at their sutures except, for the mandible (movable at the TMJ)

* Bregma – juncture of the sagittal and coronal sutures; indicates the position of the anterior fontanelle

* Lambda – juncture of the sagittal and lambdoidal sutures; is the fetal posterior fontanelle

* Glabella – juncture of the frontal eminences; lies in the midline anteriorly

* Nasion – midpoint of the frontonasal suture; lies inferior to the glabella

Anterior View

* Superior segment: Squama of the frontal bone

* Inferior segment: facial bones; contains the orbital cavities & external nasal apertures

* Laterally: frontal bone joins the frontal process of the maxilla and lacrimal bone; articulates with the zygomatic bone via the frontal zygomatic process

Lateral View

* Consists of:

1. Cranium – superiorly & posteriorly

2....