Cranial Bones, continued….. Temporal bones On each side of the skull Joins parietal bone (squamosal suture) Form parts of sides and base of cranium External auditory meatus (???) Mandibular fossae – depressions in the temporal bone that articulate with condyles (???) of the mandible What does “meatus” mean? (passage) What could the external auditory meatus be?
Cranial Bones, continued….. Temporal bones, continued…. Below each external auditory meatus: Mastoid process – rounded attachment for certain neck muscles Styloid process – long, pointed anchor for muscles associated with tongue and pharynx Zygomatic process Projects anteriorly (???) from temporal bone, joins the zygomatic bone (“cheek bone”), and helps form prominence of the cheek