The Human Skull Trivia Quiz

The maxilla is the upper jaw bone. The maxilla is actually two bones fused together and is generally not moveable. It contains the upper hard palate and the mouth's upper row of teeth.

The mandible is the lower jaw bone. Unlike the maxilla, the mandible can move and is the only moveable bone on the face. It is also the largest and strongest facial bone, containing the lower teeth and chin.

The zygomatic bone is also called the cheekbone or malar bone. These are irregular bones, one either side of the face, surrounding the nose and eye sockets. The zygomatic bones give support to the zygomatic muscles.

The occipital bone is the bone at the back and bottom of the skull. There is a hole, called the foramen magnum, at the bottom of the occipital bone that allows the spinal cord to pass through to the brain. The occipital bone provides support to the skull and protection for the brain.

The lacrimal bones are two tiny bones in the inner eye socket. They aid in the production of tears and their shape allows tears to flow. They also protect the lacrimal sac that stores tear fluid.

The frontal bone is also called the sincipital bone. It forms the front, top part of the skull including the forehead and the top of the eye sockets and nasal cavity.

The parietal bone is the bone that is found at the top middle of the skull and down the sides. Like the other large bones of the skull, the parietal bone provides support and structure to the skull and protection to the brain.

The nasal bones are two bones that form the upper bridge of the nose. About one third of the nose is bone while the rest is cartilage. The nasal bones may be difficult to locate on some individuals as the shape and size of the bones can vary wildly from individual to individual.

The sphenoid bones can be found on either side of the skull near the middle front region. They are among several bones that form the eye socket. The sphenoids are identifiable from their unusual shape which has been compared to a butterfly or wasp shape.

The vomer is a flat, thin bone that forms part of the nose. Its shape, location and thinness allow the nose to move and wiggle slightly which would not be possible under other circumstances.