FACIAL BONES

FACIAL BONES:

• 📌Facial bone anatomy refers to the structure and arrangement of the bones that make up the human face.

• 📌These bones provide the foundation for:

  • 🔺the face

  • 🔺support sensory organs

  • 🔺form cavities for the eyes

  • 🔺nose and mouth.

• 🔺There are 14 facial bones, all of which are paired except for the vomer and mandible.

Paired Facial Bones (Left & Right):

• 📌Maxillae: Form the upper jaw and most of the hard palate.

• 📌Zygomatic bones: The cheekbones.

• 📌Nasal bones: Form the bridge of the nose.

• 📌Lacrimal bones: Smallest facial bones; part of the medial wall of the orbit (eye socket).

• 📌Palatine bones: Form the posterior part of the hard palate.

• 📌Inferior nasal conchae: Thin, curved bones inside the nasal cavity.

Unpaired Facial Bones:

• 🔺Mandible: The lower jawbone; the only movable facial bone.

• 🔺Vomer: Forms the inferior part of the nasal septum.

Blood Supply:

• 📌The venous and arterial supply of the facial bones is primarily provided by branches of:

  • 🔺The external carotid artery

  • 🔺Corresponding venous drainage through tributaries of the facial vein

  • 🔺Retromandibular vein

  • 🔺Pterygoid venous plexus

Nerve Supply:

• 🔺The facial bones receive both sensory and motor innervation.

  • 🔺Sensory innervation (providing a sense of touch and pain) is primarily provided by the trigeminal nerve (CN V).

  • 🔺Motor innervation (controlling facial muscles) comes from the facial nerve (CN VII).

Clinical Significance:

🔺Protection:

• The facial bones, particularly the maxilla, mandible, and zygomatic bones, protect delicate structures like the eyes, nasal cavity, and oral cavity.

🔺Support:

• 📌They provide a bony framework for the soft tissues of the face, ensuring its shape and structure.

🔺Function:

• 📌The facial bones are crucial for functions like:

  • 📌Breathing (nasal cavity)

  • 📌Chewing (mandible)

  • 📌Speaking (mandible, maxilla, nasal bones).

🔺Facial Expression:

• 📌They provide attachment points for facial muscles, enabling a wide range of expressions.

🔺Trauma:

• 📌Fractures of facial bones, often caused by trauma, can have significant consequences, including:

  • 📌Airway obstruction

  • 📌Pain

  • 📌Functional limitations.

🔺Aging:

• 📌Age-related changes in the facial bones, such as:

  • 📌Resorption, can affect facial appearance.

  • 📌Necessitate surgical intervention in cosmetic procedures.

🔺Clinical Applications:

• 📌Understanding facial bone anatomy is crucial for various clinical specialties, including:

  • 🔺Oral and maxillofacial surgery

  • 🔺Plastic surgery

  • 🔺Dermatology.

Specific Examples:

📌Mandible:

• The only movable bone in the skull, it plays a vital role in chewing and speech.

📌Maxilla:

• 🔺Forms the upper jaw.

• 🔺Holds the upper teeth.

• 🔺Contributes to the shape of the face.

📌Zygomatic Bones (Cheekbones):

• 🔺Form part of the lateral wall of the orbit and are susceptible to fractures.

📌Nasal Bones:

• 📌Support the nose and contribute to its shape.