The Cranium

1. Restorative Art
The Cranium

2. Surface Bones of the Cranium
 Geometric form of the normal skull
 Oval from three views (front, side, and
crown)
 Variations of form due to enlarged width
or length
 The width is approx. 2/3 of the length
 At birth – facial portion is about 1/8 of the
area of the cranium
 Adult – the facial portion is about ½ the
size of the cranial area

3. Surface Bones of the Cranium
Male and Female Skull Comparison
Male Female
 Thicker walls
 Muscular ridges
pronounced
 Eminences more
prominent
 Higher vertex
 Upper/lower jaws and
teeth larger
 Thinner walls than male
 Muscular ridges less
pronounced
 More rounded
 Lighter and smaller
 Cranial capacity 10%
less than that of the
male
 Smoother facial bones

4. Surface Bones of the Cranium
 Changes resulting from loss of teeth
 Reduction in the size of upper and lower
jaws
 Alteration of the angles of the jaws
 Reduction of the vertical length of the
face

5. Surface Bones of the Cranium
 Occipital bone (1)
 Base/back of the
skull
 Has the foramen
magnum
 Permits entry of the
spinal cord and used
in decapitation
restorations
 See figure 3
regarding eminences
and occipital
protuberance

6. Surface Bones of the Cranium
 Parietal bones (2)
 Form the superior
portion of the sides
and back and posterior
2/3 of the roof
 Forms the widest part
of the cranium at the
parietal eminences
 Note location
anatomically in regard to
the ear

7. Surface Bones of the Cranium
 Temporal bones (2)
 Located inferior to the
parietal bones and
anterior to the occipital
bone
 The squama is the
vertical portion of the
temporal bone
 Four anatomical
structures for accurate
location of the ear (see
figure 4 pg. 38)
 External auditory meatus
 Mandibular fossa
 Zygomatic arch
 Mastoid process

8. Surface Bones of the Cranium
 Zygomatic arches (2)
 Location – lowest part of the
squama; directly superior to
the ear passage and extends
anteriorly to the cheekbone
 Two restorative values
 Establish widest part of the
face
 Locate correct position of a
modeled ear
 Mastoid processes (2)
 Location – on the
undersurface of the temporal
bone
 Helps to locate the posterior
lobe of the ear

9. Surface Bones of the Cranium
 Frontal bone (1)
 Location – forms the
forehead and the anterior
portion of the roof of the
skull
 Surfaces
 Vertical – (forehead) from
the eye sockets to the
frontal eminences
 Horizontal –
(crown,vertex) from the
frontal eminences
superiorly to the parietal
bones
 Eminences of the frontal
bone
 Frontal eminences (2)
 Supraorbital margins (2)
 Superciliary arches (2)
 Glabella (1)