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3D OSTEOLOGY
3D NEUROCRANIUM

SPHENOID BONE ANATOMY

Sphenoid bone 360-degree viewer showing structural components including central body, greater wings, lesser wings, and pterygoid processes

Sphenoid Bone - Structural Components, Preview from the app. Download 3D OSTEOLOGY for full 3D control—multiple views, x-ray mode, and unlimited zoom.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

  • Complex cranial bone located at skull base
  • Functions as central wedge uniting cranial and facial skeletons
  • Articulations:
    • Vomer
    • Ethmoid
    • Frontal
    • Occipital
    • Parietal
    • Temporal
    • Zygomatic
    • Palatine
Sphenoid bone anatomy 360-degree interactive viewer showing articulations with vomer, ethmoid, frontal, occipital, parietal, temporal, zygomatic, and palatine bones

Sphenoid Bone - Articulations, Preview from the app. Download 3D OSTEOLOGY for full 3D control—multiple views, x-ray mode, and unlimited zoom.

Structural Components

  • Central body
  • Two greater wings
  • Two lesser wings
  • Two pterygoid processes

BODY OF SPHENOID

Body of sphenoid bone 360-degree viewer showing sella turcica, hypophysial fossa, dorsum sellae, carotid sulcus, sphenoidal yoke, and clinoid processes

Body of Sphenoid Bone, Preview from the app. Download 3D OSTEOLOGY for full 3D control—multiple views, x-ray mode, and unlimited zoom.

  • Hollow cuboid-shaped central portion

Superior Surface Features

  • Sphenoidal Yoke — elevated midline region
    • Site where lesser wings converge
  • Limbus of Sphenoid — posterior boundary of yoke
  • Chiasmatic Sulcus — horizontal groove
    • Located posterior to limbus
    • Accommodates optic chiasm
  • Sella Turcica — saddle-shaped depression
    • Houses pituitary gland
    • Hypophysial Fossa — deepest portion
  • Tuberculum Sellae — anterior boundary of sella turcica
  • Middle Clinoid Processes — flank tuberculum sellae bilaterally
  • Dorsum Sellae — posterior wall of sella turcica
    • Bears posterior clinoid processes superiorly
    • Provides dural attachment sites
  • Carotid Sulcus — broad lateral groove
    • Lodges internal carotid artery
    • Contains cavernous sinus
  • Sphenoidal Lingula — bony ridge
    • Marks lateral margin of carotid sulcus
Anterior surface of sphenoid body 360-degree viewer showing sphenoidal crest, sphenoidal rostrum, and apertures of sphenoidal sinuses

Body of Sphenoid - Anterior Surface, Preview from the app. Download 3D OSTEOLOGY for full 3D control—multiple views, x-ray mode, and unlimited zoom.

Anterior Surface Features

  • Sphenoidal Crest — vertical midline ridge
    • Articulates with perpendicular plate of ethmoid
  • Sphenoidal Rostrum — inferior extension of crest
    • Articulates with vomer

Sphenoidal Sinuses

  • Two irregular cavities within body
  • Separated by thin bony septum
  • Open into nasal cavity via apertures beside crest
  • Sphenoidal Conchae — thin curved bony plates
    • Form part of nasal cavity roof
    • Contribute to sinus walls

LESSER WING

Lesser wing of sphenoid 360-degree viewer showing optic canal, anterior clinoid processes, and contributions to anterior cranial fossa and orbital roof

Lesser Wing of Sphenoid, Preview from the app. Download 3D OSTEOLOGY for full 3D control—multiple views, x-ray mode, and unlimited zoom.

  • Thin triangular plates extending laterally
  • Project from superior anterior part of body
  • Contributions:
    • Floor of anterior cranial fossa
    • Posterior part of orbital roof
  • Optic Canal — located at wing base
    • Transmits optic nerve
    • Transmits ophthalmic artery
  • Anterior Clinoid Processes — arise from posterior border medially
    • Serve as tentorium cerebelli attachment
    • Tentorium separates cerebrum from cerebellum

GREATER WING

Greater wing of sphenoid 360-degree viewer showing foramen rotundum, foramen ovale, foramen spinosum, and middle cranial fossa floor

Greater Wing of Sphenoid, Preview from the app. Download 3D OSTEOLOGY for full 3D control—multiple views, x-ray mode, and unlimited zoom.

  • Strong curved extensions from lateral body
  • Contributions:
    • Middle cranial fossa floor
    • Lateral skull wall
    • Orbital lateral wall

Foramina

  • Foramen Rotundum — transmits maxillary nerve
  • Foramen Ovale — transmits mandibular nerve
    • Also transmits accessory meningeal artery
  • Foramen Spinosum — transmits middle meningeal artery
  • Sphenoidal Emissary Foramen — occasionally present
    • Transmits emissary veins
  • Foramen Petrosum — occasionally present
    • Transmits lesser petrosal nerve
  • Spine of Sphenoid — lateral to foramen spinosum
    • Provides ligament attachment
  • Sulcus of Auditory Tube — along posterior margin laterally
    • Provides attachment for cartilaginous auditory tube
Greater wing surfaces and margins 360-degree viewer showing temporal surface, infratemporal surface, orbital surface, and articulations with zygomatic, frontal, parietal, and temporal bones

Greater Wing - Surfaces and Margins, Preview from the app. Download 3D OSTEOLOGY for full 3D control—multiple views, x-ray mode, and unlimited zoom.

Surfaces

  • Lateral Surface — divided by infratemporal crest
    • Temporal Surface — superior portion
      • Forms part of temporal fossa
    • Infratemporal Surface — inferior portion
      • Forms part of infratemporal fossa
  • Orbital Surface — smooth
    • Forms lateral orbital wall
  • Cerebral Surface — superior aspect
    • Forms middle cranial fossa floor

Margins and Articulations

  • Zygomatic Margin — articulates with zygomatic bone
  • Frontal Margin — articulates with frontal bone
  • Parietal Margin — articulates with parietal bone
  • Squamosal Margin — articulates with temporal bone

PTERYGOID PROCESS

Pterygoid process 360-degree viewer showing lateral and medial pterygoid plates, pterygoid hamulus, pterygoid notch, and pterygoid fossa

Pterygoid Process, Preview from the app. Download 3D OSTEOLOGY for full 3D control—multiple views, x-ray mode, and unlimited zoom.

  • Extend inferiorly from body-greater wing junction
  • Components:
    • Lateral Pterygoid Plate
      • Lateral surface — lateral pterygoid muscle attachment
      • Medial surface — medial pterygoid muscle attachment
    • Medial Pterygoid Plate
      • Contributes to nasal cavity
      • Pterygoid Hamulus — hook-like inferior projection
        • Acts as pulley for tensor veli palatini tendon
  • Plates fused anteriorly
  • Pterygoid Notch — separates plates inferiorly
  • Pterygoid Fossa — between medial and lateral plates
    • Accommodates soft palate muscles
Pterygoid process posterior view 360-degree viewer showing scaphoid fossa, pterygospinous process, and pterygoid canal

Pterygoid Process - Posterior View, Preview from the app. Download 3D OSTEOLOGY for full 3D control—multiple views, x-ray mode, and unlimited zoom.

Posterior Features

  • Scaphoid Fossa — superior to pterygoid fossa
    • Tensor veli palatini attachment site
  • Pterygospinous Process — pointed projection
    • Located on posterior border of lateral plate
    • May ossify to form ligament
  • Pterygoid Canal — traverses process base
    • Transmits nerve of pterygoid canal
    • Transmits artery of pterygoid canal

VAGINAL PROCESS

Vaginal process of sphenoid 360-degree viewer showing articulations with palatine bone and vomer, palatovaginal and vomerovaginal canals

Vaginal Process of Sphenoid, Preview from the app. Download 3D OSTEOLOGY for full 3D control—multiple views, x-ray mode, and unlimited zoom.

  • Small bony projections flanking sphenoidal rostrum
  • Articulations:
    • Sphenoidal process of palatine bone
    • Ala of vomer

Associated Canals

  • Palatovaginal Canal — formed with palatine bone
    • Derived from palatovaginal groove
    • Transmits pharyngeal nerve
    • Transmits pharyngeal vessels
  • Vomerovaginal Canal — formed with vomer
    • Derived from vomerovaginal groove

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. Henry G, Warren HL. Osteology. In: Anatomy of the Human Body. 20th ed. Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger; 1918. p. 129–97.

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