Description
The bones of viscerocranium (facial skeleton) is one of the two groups of bones of the cranium, the other group being the bones of neurocranium. Fifteen bones contribute to the formation of the viscerocranium:
- six paired bones (maxillae, inferior nasal conchae, and palatine, lacrimal, zygomatic, and nasal bones);
- three singular bones (mandible, vomer, and ethmoid bone).
The cribriform plate is the only portion of the ethmoid bone that contributes to the formation of the neurocranium, the rest of the bone contributes to the formation of the viscerocranium.
Overall, the bones of viscerocranium:
- provide the skeletal framework for the orbital, nasal and oral cavities;
- provide attachment sites to muscles of the head;
- accommodate the teeth and the sensory structures for sight, hearing, smell and taste.
Related parts of the anatomy
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Facial Bone
Facial bone contouring surgery is a surgical procedure to address the appearance of the facial structures by various craniofacial techniques, such as osteotomy, bone reconstruction, bone graft, and fixation.
