bone that contains your teeth and protects your brain

bone that contains your teeth and protects your brain?

THE SKULL

What is the name of the bone that protects your brain?

The skull is the bone that surrounds and protects your brain.

Also read: Can tooth decay transfer to other teeth

bone that contains your teeth and protects your brain

Overview

Bones are rigid organs that, in addition to allowing movement and proper body support, have the mission of protecting sensitive organs. As a result, our brain is surrounded by a series of bones with varying morphology and functionality that serve the purpose of safeguarding the storage of all our information, perception, and cognition.

In any case, the role of the human head is not limited to brain protection; it is also the location of the majority of our senses and the source of our unique personality. As a result, a total of 22 bones perform these and many other functions, ensuring proper morphology and physiology.

In this article, we will look at the bones that comprise our skull, paying special attention to the functions they perform and their biological function.

Is “head” synonymous with “skull”?
Traditionally, we use the terms head and skull interchangeably. They are not, however, because the skull is a part of the head. The term skull refers to the bony structures that cover and protect the brain, and which form part of the “whole” that is the head.

This includes both the skull bones and the rest of the elements that comprise the facial skeleton, such as the mouth, eyes, jaw, nose, and so on.

The classification of the bones of the head in this context is based on this differentiation. On the one hand, there is a group of neurocranial bones, which are flattened bony elements that surround and protect the brain.

On the other hand, there is the viscerocranium group: bones with much more variable shapes that accompany and enable much broader biological functions (smell, speech, vision, food, etc.).

As a result, in this article, we will distinguish between the bones of the neurocranium and the viscerocranium, as well as review the bones that comprise each of these groups.

Neurocranial bones: brain defence
A total of eight flattened and naturally welded bones form the structure that protects the brain from blows and injuries, ensuring that the nervous system is not harmed throughout the person’s life.

We’ve all heard that babies can’t hit their heads because they don’t yet have bones. This is not entirely true, despite the fact that you should always keep an eye out for children.

We already have these skull bones when we are born; the problem is that, due to the disproportionate size of the brain in relation to the other organs at birth, these bones are not well welded together. As a child grows older, these “holes” close up, forming a more compact structure.

Next, we’ll look at the neurocranium’s bones one by one: two temporal bones, two parietal bones, and one frontal, occipital, ethmoid, and sphenoid bone.

  1. the frontal crest

The frontal bone is located in the centre of the forehead. It runs from just above the eye sockets to the top of the forehead, serving as a link between the bones of the skull and those of the viscerocranium.

In addition to shaping the brow, it protects the frontal lobes of the brain, which are located just behind this bone. The protection of these lobes ensures that executive functions such as mental flexibility, attention, and memory are not harmed by trauma.

  1. The two temporal skeletons

These two bones are located on the sides of the head, one on each side. These two bones protect the temporal lobes, ensuring that auditory language and speech comprehension are not harmed.

They also safeguard the brainstem, which serves as the primary communication link between the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves. As a result, the temporal bones are in charge of ensuring that the area responsible for controlling respiration and heart rate is not harmed.

These two bones have a hole in the middle that allows sounds to reach the eardrum on each side of the head. We wouldn’t be able to hear anything if we couldn’t hear it.

  • The occipital bone is number three.

The occipital bone is a prominently concave bony element located at the nape of the neck. Its purpose is to protect the brain stem once more. Furthermore, it protects the cerebellum and occipital lobes, which are in charge of muscle coordination and processing the images we perceive, respectively.

  • four. the parietal bones

The crown and its surroundings are occupied by the two parietal bones. They are two symmetrical bones that have been welded together.

Its function is to protect the part of the cerebral cortex beneath that is responsible for perception, imagination, judgement, thought, and so on. In the same way, it protects the parietal lobes and the subcortical organs beneath. These parietal lobes are in charge of mood regulation and sensory processing.

  • The ethmoid bone is number five.

The ethmoid bone is the only one in this group that is not flattened. In fact, it has a rough morphology with cavities. It is not a “external” bone because it is located behind the nose on the inside of the face.

Its function is to be the primary supporting structure of the nasal cavity, establishing a primary mission for the proper functioning of the olfactory system by creating channels through which air can flow.

  • The sphenoid bone is number six.

The sphenoid bone could be considered the cornerstone of the base of the skull because it is the one that allows other bony elements of the skull to be joined together due to its location in the middle of the base of the skull.

Its function is thus to support the other bones of the skull as well as to shape the internal structure of the face.

  • Viscerocranium bones: multiple functions

As previously stated, we will now go over the rest of the bones that comprise the human head and their functions, which, as we will see, are very varied and are not limited to the mere protection of sensitive organs.

  1. maxillary bone

The maxillary bone is an irregularly shaped bone that occupies the centre of the face, from the upper part of the mouth to the base of the nostrils.

Its primary function is to support the upper teeth, including their roots. It also acts as a support for the viscerocranium’s other bones.

  • The palatine bone is number two.

The palatine bone is a continuation of the maxilla and the one that penetrates deeper into the face’s surface. It not only supports other bone elements, but it also supports internal tissues. It has a L shape and serves as the roof of the mouth.

  1. Nostril bones

The two nasal bones are small bony elements that are joined together in the middle of the face. They make up the nasal septum, which protects the nose and houses cartilage in the distal part.

  1. The tear bones

The lacrimal bones are tiny bony structures that sit just behind the jawbone. These are bones that are located in each eye socket and participate in the tear function, that is, they provide a path for the tears of the eye to be led to the nasal cavity.

  • The vomer bone is number five.

The vomer bone is a bone that is located behind the maxilla, just below the nose, and is made up of a thin vertical sheet that aids in the formation of the nasal septum.

  • Sixth, the inferior nasal concha.

The inferior nasal shell, also known as the inferior turbinate, is a bony structure located directly behind the nostrils. Its spongy texture allows it to support tissues covered with nasal mucosa and blood vessels while also allowing constant air entry into the nasal cavity.

*The zygomatic bone is number seven.

The zygomatic bone is a rhomboid bone that forms the cheekbones and is located in the lower lateral part of the eye sockets. It is an insertion point for several facial muscles that are responsible for chewing and also helps to keep the eyes open.

  1. The jaw

The jaw is the only bone in the head that can move. It is made up of a base and two mandibular branches that are fixed to the temporal bone. The jaw, in addition to serving as the foundation for the lower teeth, enables basic bodily functions such as speech and chewing.

  • Malformations of the bones

Diseases, malformations, and genetic defects can all affect the skull. Crouzon’s disease, also known as craniosynostosis, is caused by a genetic mutation that causes the fontanelle sutures to close prematurely. This results in skull and face deformation and, in some cases, hydrocephalus.

Paget’s disease causes bone tissue inflammation, which can result in fractures and deformations. Microcephaly, hydrocephalus, spina bifida, and some cases of meningitis and encephalitis can also affect skull development.

As a result, the skull serves as a safeguard for the human body’s most valuable organ: the brain. With its distinct and distinguishing features, it also contributes to the structure of the face. And, along with the rest of the skeleton, it is what survives death the longest.

Questions and Answers:

The Bone That Protects Your Brain

  • Which bone shields the brain from harm?


The skull protects the brain and forms the face’s structure.

  • What kind of bone shields the brain?


The skull is a bony structure that encloses the brain and is located before the vertebral column.

  • What part of the skull shields the brain?


The part of the skull that encloses and protects the brain and brain stem is known as the neurocranium.

  • What part of the brain is protected by the occipital bone?


The occipital bone is a prominently concave bony element located at the nape of the neck. Its purpose is to protect the brain stem once more.bone that contains your teeth and protects your brain

  • How is our brain protected within our bodies?


The meninges are three layers of tissue (membranes) that cover and protect the brain and spinal cord.bone that contains your teeth and protects your brain

In this post, we discussed the bones that protect our brains, how they are made, their components, and the importance of this protective bone for humans.bone that contains your teeth and protects your brain

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