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Information about Great Wings Of The Sphenoid

Bone: Greater wing of sphenoid bone
Figure 1: Sphenoid bone, upper surface.
Figure 2: Sphenoid bone, anterior and inferior surfaces.
Latinala major ossis sphenoidalis
subject #35 149
Dorlands/Elsevier a_21/12118035
The greater wing of the sphenoid bone, or ali-sphenoid, is a bony process of the sphenoid bone; there is one on each side, extending from the side of the body of the sphenoid and curving upward, laterally, and backwards.

Structure

The greater wings of the sphenoid are two strong processes of bone, which arise from the sides of the body, and are curved upward, lateralward, and backward; the posterior part of each projects as a triangular process which fits into the angle between the squamous and the petrous part of the temporal bone and presents at its apex a downwardly directed process, the spine of sphenoid bone.

Cerebral surface

The superior or cerebral surface of each greater wing [Fig. 1] forms part of the middle cranial fossa; it is deeply concave, and presents depressions for the convolutions of the temporal lobe of the brain. It has a number of foramina (holes) in it:

Lateral surface

The lateral surface [Fig. 2] is convex, and divided by a transverse ridge, the infratemporal crest, into two portions.
  • The superior temporal surface, convex from above downward, concave from before backward, forms a part of the temporal fossa, and gives attachment to the temporalis;
  • the inferior infratemporal surface, smaller in size and concave, enters into the formation of the infratemporal fossa, and, together with the infratemporal crest, serves as an attachment to the lateral pterygoid muscle.
It is pierced by the foramen ovale and foramen spinosum, and at its posterior part is the sphenoidal spine, which is frequently grooved on its medial surface for the chorda tympani nerve.

To the sphenoidal spine are attached the sphenomandibular ligament and the tensor veli palatini muscle.

Medial to the anterior extremity of the infratemporal crest is a triangular process which serves to increase the attachment of the lateral pterygoid muscle; extending downward and medialward from this process on to the front part of the lateral pterygoid plate is a ridge which forms the anterior limit of the infratemporal surface, and, in the articulated skull, the posterior boundary of the pterygomaxillary fissure.

Orbital surface

The orbital surface of the great wing [Fig. 2], smooth, and quadrilateral in shape, is directed forward and medially and forms the posterior part of the lateral wall of the orbit.
  • Its upper serrated edge articulates with the orbital plate of the frontal bone.
  • Its inferior rounded border forms the postero-lateral boundary of the inferior orbital fissure.
  • Its medial sharp margin forms the lower boundary of the superior orbital fissure and has projecting from about its center a little tubercle which gives attachment to the inferior head of the lateral rectus muscle; at the upper part of this margin is a notch for the transmission of a recurrent branch of the lacrimal artery.
  • Its lateral margin is serrated and articulates with the zygomatic bone.
  • Below the medial end of the superior orbital fissure is a grooved surface, which forms the posterior wall of the pterygopalatine fossa, and is pierced by the foramen rotundum.

Margin

Commencing from behind [Fig. 2], that portion of the circumference of the great wing which extends from the body to the spine is irregular.
  • Its medial half forms the anterior boundary of the foramen lacerum, and presents the posterior aperture of the pterygoid canal for the passage of the corresponding nerve and artery.
  • Its lateral half articulates, by means of a synchondrosis, with the petrous portion of the temporal, and between the two bones on the under surface of the skull, is a furrow, the sulcus of the auditory tube, for the lodgement of the cartilaginous part of the auditory tube.
In front of the spine the circumference presents a concave, serrated edge, bevelled at the expense of the inner table below, and of the outer table above, for articulation with the squamous part of the temporal bone.

At the tip of the great wing is a triangular portion, bevelled at the expense of the internal surface, for articulation with the sphenoidal angle of the parietal bone; this region is named the pterion.

Medial to this is a triangular, serrated surface, for articulation with the frontal bone; this surface is continuous medially with the sharp edge that forms the lower boundary of the superior orbital fissure, and laterally with the serrated margin for articulation with the zygomatic bone.

Additional images


The seven bones which articulate to form the orbit.

Base of skull. Inferior surface.

Left infratemporal fossa.

The skull from the front.

Articulation of the mandible. Medial aspect.

Muscles of the right orbit.


External links

This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained herein may be outdated. Please edit the article if this is the case, and feel free to remove this notice when it is no longer relevant.
Human cranial bones
 •  • [ e]
occipital bone: Foramen magnum | Squama occipitalis (Inion | Nuchal lines | Planum occipitale | Planum nuchale | Internal occipital protuberance | Sagittal sulcus | Internal occipital crest) | Lateral parts (Hypoglossal canal | Condyloid fossa | Condyloid canal | Jugular process | Jugular tubercle) | Basilar part (Pharyngeal tubercle) parietal bone: Parietal eminence | Temporal line | Parietal foramen frontal bone: Squama frontalis (Frontal suture | Frontal eminence | Superciliary arches | Glabella | Supraorbital foramen | Zygomatic process | Sagittal sulcus | Frontal crest | Foramen cecum) | Pars orbitalis (Frontal sinus | Frontonasal duct) temporal bone: Squama temporalis (Articular tubercle | Suprameatal triangle | Mandibular fossa | Petrotympanic fissure) | Mastoid portion (Mastoid foramen | Mastoid process | Mastoid notch | Occipital groove | Sigmoid sulcus | Mastoid antrum) | Petrous portion (Hiatus of the facial canal | Internal auditory meatus | Subarcuate fossa | Carotid canal | Aqueduct of cochlea | Jugular fossa | Inferior tympanic canaliculus | Mastoid canaliculus | Styloid process | Stylomastoid foramen | Jugular foramen | Petrosquamous suture) | Tympanic part (Suprameatal spine) | Zygomatic process sphenoid bone: Sphenoidal sinuses | Ethmoidal spine | Optic foramen | Sella turcica | Fossa hypophyseos | Dorsum sellae | Posterior clinoid processes | Carotid groove | Lingula sphenoidalis | Sphenoidal conchæ | Great wings (Spina angularis | Foramen rotundum | Foramen ovale | Foramen Vesalii | Foramen spinosum | Infratemporal crest | Sulcus tubae auditivae | Small wings | Superior orbital fissure | Anterior clinoid process | Optic foramen) | Pterygoid processes (Pterygoid fossa | Scaphoid fossa | Lateral pterygoid plate | Medial pterygoid plate | Pterygoid hamulus | Sphenoidal conchæ | Sphenoidal sinuses) ethmoid bone: Cribriform plate | Crista galli | Perpendicular plate | Labyrinth | Ethmoid sinus | Uncinate process | Middle nasal concha | Superior meatus | Superior nasal concha | Middle meatus
Facial bones
maxilla: Incisive fossa | Maxillary sinus | Incisive fossa | Canine fossa | Infraorbital foramen | Anterior nasal spine | Alveolar canals | Orbitofrontal cortex | Infraorbital canal | Pterygopalatine canal | Zygomatic process | Agger nasi | Anterior lacrimal crest | Alveolar process | Incisive foramen | Incisive canals | Foramina of Scarpa | Premaxilla | Anterior nasal spine lacrimal bone: Posterior lacrimal crest zygomatic bone: Zygomaticofacial foramen | Zygomaticotemporal foramen | Zygomaticoörbital foramina palatine bone: Pterygopalatine fossa | Pterygoid fossa | Horizontal plate | Posterior nasal spine | Perpendicular plate | Pterygopalatine canal | Sphenopalatine foramen | Pyramidal process | Orbital process | Sphenoidal process mandible: Symphysis menti | Mental foramen | Mylohyoid line | Ramus mandibulae | Mandibular foramen | Mandibular canal others: nasal bone | inferior nasal conchae | vomer bone
composite structures
Cranial sutures: Coronal | Lambdoidal | Occipitomastoid | Parietomastoid | Sphenofrontal | Sphenoparietal |Sphenosquamosal | Sphenozygomatic |Squamosal | Zygomaticotemporal | Zygomaticofrontal | Frontal/Metopic | Sagittal | Frontoethmoidal | Petrosquamous | Sphenoethmoidal | Sphenopetrosal Asterion | Nasion | Pterion | Dacryon | Inferior orbital fissure
The sphenoid bone (from Greek sphenoeides, "wedgelike") is a bone situated at the base of the skull in front of the temporals and basilar part of the occipital bone.

The sphenoid bone somewhat resembles a butterfly or bat with its wings extended.
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The sphenoid bone (from Greek sphenoeides, "wedgelike") is a bone situated at the base of the skull in front of the temporals and basilar part of the occipital bone.

The sphenoid bone somewhat resembles a butterfly or bat with its wings extended.
..... Click the link for more information.
Latin}}} 
Official status
Official language of: Vatican City
Used for official purposes, but not spoken in everyday speech
Regulated by: Opus Fundatum Latinitas
Roman Catholic Church
Language codes
ISO 639-1: la
ISO 639-2: lat
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Elsevier, the world's largest publisher of medical and scientific literature, forms part of the Reed Elsevier group. Based in Amsterdam, the company has substantial operations in the UK, USA and elsewhere.
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The sphenoid bone (from Greek sphenoeides, "wedgelike") is a bone situated at the base of the skull in front of the temporals and basilar part of the occipital bone.

The sphenoid bone somewhat resembles a butterfly or bat with its wings extended.
..... Click the link for more information.
The temporal bones are situated at the sides and base of the skull.

The temporal bone supports that part of the face known as the temple.

Parts

Each consists of five parts:
  • Squama temporalis
  • Mastoid portion
  • Petrous portion
  • Tympanic part

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spina angularis (sphenoidal spine).

External links

  • SUNY Figs 27:02-04 - "Schematic view of key landmarks of the infratemporal fossa."
  • Roche Lexicon - illustrated navigator, at Elsevier 34257.

..... Click the link for more information.
The temporal lobes are part of the cerebrum. They lie at the sides of the brain, beneath the lateral or Sylvian fissure. Seen in profile, the human brain looks something like a boxing glove. The temporal lobes are where the thumbs would be.
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The foramen rotundum is a circular hole in the sphenoid bone that connects the middle cranial fossa and the pterygopalatine fossa.

Structure

The foramen rotundum is one of the several circular apertures (the foramina) located in the base of the skull, in the anterior and
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The maxillary nerve (superior maxillary nerve), or second division of the trigeminal, is a sensory nerve.

It is intermediate, both in position and size, between the ophthalmic nerve and the mandibular nerve.
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At the base of the skull the foramen ovale (Latin: oval window) is one of the larger of the several holes (the foramina) that transmit nerves through the skull. The foramen ovale is situated in the anterior part of the sphenoid bone, posteriolateral to the foramen rotundum.
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The mandibular nerve (V3) is the largest of the three branches of the trigeminal nerve.

Structure

Roots

It is made up of two roots:
  • a large sensory root proceeding from the inferior angle of the trigeminal ganglion.

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The accessory meningeal artery (also accessory branch of middle meningeal artery, pterygomeningeal artery, small meningeal or parvidural branch) is a branch of the maxillary artery, sometimes derived from the middle meningeal artery.
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The lesser petrosal nerve is a root of the otic ganglion. Its fibers are derived from the facial and glossopharyngeal nerve via tympanic plexus. Postsynaptic fibres leaving otic ganglion join auriculotemporal nerve and inervate the parotid gland.
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sphenoidal emissary foramen, may occasionally be seen (it is often absent) opposite the root of the pterygoid process. When present, it opens below near the scaphoid fossa.
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scaphoid fossa, which gives origin to the Tensor veli palatini.

External links

  • Diagram - look for #28 (source here )
This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy.
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The foramen spinosum is one of several foramina located in the base of the skull, on the sphenoid bone, situated lateral to the foramen ovale, in a posterior angle.

Contents

It permits the passage of certain arteries, veins and/or other structures:

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The middle meningeal artery (Latin arteria meningea media) is typically the first branch of the first part (retromandibular part) of the maxillary artery; one of the two terminal branches of the external carotid artery.
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The mandibular nerve (V3) is the largest of the three branches of the trigeminal nerve.

Structure

Roots

It is made up of two roots:
  • a large sensory root proceeding from the inferior angle of the trigeminal ganglion.

..... Click the link for more information.
The temporal fossa is a shallow depression on the side of the skull bounded by the temporal lines and terminating below the level of the zygomatic arch.

Boundaries

  • Above: Superior and inferior temporal lines
  • Roof: Temporalis fascia

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The temporalis muscle is one of the muscles of mastication.

Structure

It arises from the temporal fossa and the deep part of temporal fascia. It passes medial to the zygomatic arch and inserts onto the coronoid process of the mandible.
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The infratemporal fossa is an irregularly shaped cavity, situated below and medial to the zygomatic arch.

Boundaries

It is bounded by the following structures:
  • anteriorly

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The lateral pterygoid (or external pterygoid) is a muscle of mastication with two heads.

Origin and insertion

The upper/superior head originates on the infratemporal surface and infratemporal crest of the greater wing of the sphenoid bone, and the lower/inferior
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There are multiple structures in the human body with the name foramen ovale (plural: foramina ovalia; Latin for "oval hole"):
  • In the fetal heart, the foramen ovale (heart) is a shunt from the right to left atrium.

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The foramen spinosum is one of several foramina located in the base of the skull, on the sphenoid bone, situated lateral to the foramen ovale, in a posterior angle.

Contents

It permits the passage of certain arteries, veins and/or other structures:

..... Click the link for more information.
spina angularis (sphenoidal spine).

External links

  • SUNY Figs 27:02-04 - "Schematic view of key landmarks of the infratemporal fossa."
  • Roche Lexicon - illustrated navigator, at Elsevier 34257.

..... Click the link for more information.
The chorda tympani is a nerve that branches from the facial nerve (cranial nerve VII) inside the facial canal, just before the facial nerve exits the skull via the stylomastoid foramen.
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The sphenomandibular ligament (internal lateral ligament) is a flat, thin band which is attached above to the spina angularis of the sphenoid bone, and, becoming broader as it descends, is fixed to the lingula of the mandibular foramen.
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The tensor veli palatini (tensor palati) is a broad, thin, ribbon-like muscle in the head that tenses the soft palate.

Structure

The tensor veli palatini it is found lateral to the levator veli palatini muscle.
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The lateral pterygoid (or external pterygoid) is a muscle of mastication with two heads.

Origin and insertion

The upper/superior head originates on the infratemporal surface and infratemporal crest of the greater wing of the sphenoid bone, and the lower/inferior
..... Click the link for more information.


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