Of the eight bones that form the cranium, which bones are paired bones?
ethmoid, sphenoid frontal, occipital zygomatic, vomer temporal, parietal
The correct answer and explanation is:
The paired bones of the cranium are the zygomatic and temporal bones.
The cranium is made up of eight bones: frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital, ethmoid, sphenoid, zygomatic, and vomer. Among these, some are paired, meaning they occur on both sides of the skull, while others are single.
- Zygomatic bones: There are two zygomatic bones, one on each side of the face. These bones form the cheekbones and contribute to the orbit (eye socket). They articulate with the frontal, temporal, sphenoid, and maxilla bones.
- Temporal bones: There are two temporal bones, one on each side of the skull. These bones are located beneath the parietal bones and house structures like the ear canal, middle ear, and inner ear. The temporal bones also play a role in forming the skull’s base and support the mandible (jawbone) through the temporomandibular joint.
The frontal, occipital, ethmoid, sphenoid, parietal, and vomer bones are single, with no paired counterparts.
- The frontal bone forms the forehead and the upper part of the eye sockets.
- The occipital bone is located at the back and base of the skull and contains the foramen magnum, through which the spinal cord passes.
- The ethmoid bone is located between the eyes and forms part of the nasal cavity.
- The sphenoid bone is centrally located and helps form the floor of the cranial cavity and parts of the orbit.
- The vomer forms part of the nasal septum.
In summary, only the zygomatic and temporal bones are paired, while all the other bones in the cranium are either single or not paired.