The growth of the face stops around age 16. There are 14 facial bones.   The growth of the face stops around age 16. There are 14 facial bones.

Facial bones 1) Nasal bones (2) – form part of the bridge of the nose. The rest of the nose is cartilage. 2)Maxillary bones (2) – unite to form the upper jaw and articulate with every bone of the face except the lower jawbone (mandible).

Parts of the maxillary bones A) Alveoli of alveolar process – sockets for the upper teeth B) Maxillary sinus – cavity that empties into the nasal cavity

Maxillary bones continued C) Cleft palate – The right and left maxillary bones should fuse together before birth. Cleft palate results if they do not. A cleft lip, in which the upper lip is split, may also result.

Cleft palate continued Speech and swallowing may be affected. Surgery for cleft lip is usually performed during the first few weeks after birth. Surgery for cleft palate is usually performed at 12-18 months of age. Speech therapy may also be required.

More facial bones 3) Zygomatic bones (2) form the cheek bones 4) Mandible (1) – Lower jawbone. Strongest and largest facial bone and the only movable skull bone.

Parts of the mandible A) Alveolar process with alveoli – sockets for lower teeth B) Mandibular condyles – articulates with the mandibular fossa of the temporal bone to form the TMJ.

More parts of the mandible Mental foramen – a hole in the mandible used by dentists to inject anesthetic into the mental nerve.

Cleft palate – the palatine bones may also be incompletely fused. More facial bones Palatine bones (2) – L shaped bones that are fused together and form the posterior portion of the hard palate, part of the floor at lateral wall of the nasal cavity and a small part of the floors of the orbits. Cleft palate – the palatine bones may also be incompletely fused.

More facial bones Inferior nasal conchae (2) – scroll shaped bones that help with filtration of air before it reaches the lungs.

More facial bones Nasal septum – composed of several small bones, it separates the nasal cavity into right and left sides. Deviated nasal septum – the septum bends sideways and may even block one nasal passageway May cause sinus blockages, congestion, sinus infections, nosebleeds and headaches. Surgery may be required to repair it.

Accessory bones (7) 1. Hyoid bone – in the neck between the mandible and the larynx. A. Does not attach to any other bone. B. Suspended from the styloid processes of the temporal bone by ligaments and muscles.

D. Often fractured during strangulation. Accessory bones C. Supports the tongue and provides attachment points for muscles of the tongue, neck and pharynx. D. Often fractured during strangulation. 2. Ossicles (6) – small bones in the middle ear

Fetal Skull Fontanels - Ossification of the bone has not yet been completed so membrane-filled spaces called fontanels are found between the cranial bones. Anterior fontanel – “soft spot” at the top of the head Closes 18-24 months after birth

Fontanels continued Posterior fontanel – at the back of the head Closes 2 months after birth Ossification of the fontanels A. Fontanels allow the shape of the skull to be altered to fit through the birth canal.

The fontanels become sutures over time. Fontanels continued Cartilage and the loose fibrous connective tissue membranes are eventually replaced by bone through intramembranous ossification. The fontanels become sutures over time.