Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 2.1 Lateral and front view of human skull.
Precise anatomy of the bones of the head, as a part of the skeletal
system, has been described by many authors [6, 7]. The human skull
is made up of 22 bones, which are, except for the mandible, connected
together by sutures, a rigid connection enabling very little movement
(Fig. 2.1). Eight bones form the neurocranium, including one frontal,
two parietals, one occipital bone, one sphenoid, two temporals, and
one ethmoid, which is a protective vault surrounding the brain.
However, the remaining 14 bones form the splanchnocranium, the
support for the face.
The mandible consists of the horizontal part, from which the body
of the mandible perpendicularly extends on both sides of the rami,
ending with two processes. Condyle is the superior and posterior
projection of the ramus and together with the temporal bone forms
the temporomandibular articulation. The other projection is the
coronoid process, lying more anterior to the latter, and it provides
attachment to the temporalis muscle.
The temporomandibular joint, as a paired articulation, enables
remarkable freedom of motion of the mandible, but still controls
and limits the motions. The anatomy is complex and not the typical
compared with other joints of the body. The articular surface of
the condyle is small compared with the glenoid fossa and articular
eminence on the temporal bone. The capsule of the joint is not as well
organized as the capsules of other joints. Its lateral side is reinforced
by temporomandibular ligament consisting of collagen ibers.
The movement and position of the mandible is inluenced by
many muscles, among them the mastication muscles (Fig. 2.2). This
group consists of eight muscles symmetrically positioned on both
 
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