The greater wings of the sphenoid bone extend laterally to either side. The right and left lesser wings of the sphenoid bone, resemble the wings of a flying bird. Inside the cranial cavity, it has a pair of lesser wings and a pair of greater wings. The sphenoid forms much of the base of the central skull and also extends laterally to contribute to the sides of the skull. It serves as a “keystone” bone, because it joins with almost every other bone of the skull. Sphenoid bone (1) – The sphenoid bone is a single, complex bone of the central skull.These condyles form joints with the first cervical vertebra and thus support the skull on top of the vertebral column. On either side of the foramen magnum is an oval-shaped occipital condyle. On the base of the skull, the occipital bone contains the large opening of the foramen magnum, which allows for passage of the spinal cord as it exits the skull. Occipital bone (1) – The occipital bone is the single bone that forms the posterior skull and posterior base of the cranial cavity.The mastoid process is a large prominence behind your earlobe which serves as a muscle attachment site It transmits sounds to the tympanic membrane (eardrum) in the middle ear. The e xternal auditory meatus (the ear canal) which is a prominent canal in the tympanic part of the temporal bone. Two major structures if the temporal bone are the external auditory meatus and the mastoid process. Common wisdom has it that the temporal bone (temporal = “time”) is so named because this area of the head (the temple) is where hair typically first turns gray, indicating the passage of time.

Temporal bone (2) – The temporal bone forms the lower lateral side of the skull.These are paired bones, with the right and left parietal bones joining together at the top of the skull. Parietal bone (2) – The parietal bone forms most of the upper lateral side of the skull.Frontal bone (1) – The frontal bone is the single bone that forms the forehead.

Is the parietal bone a flat bone