Restorative Art

The Cranium

Surface Bones of the Cranium

Geometric form of the normal skull

Oval from three views (front, side, and

crown)

Variations of form due to enlarged width

or length

The width is approx. 2/3 of the length

At birth – facial portion is about 1/8 of the

area of the cranium

Adult – the facial portion is about ½ the

size of the cranial area

Male and Female Skull Comparison

Thicker walls

Muscular ridges

pronounced

Eminences more

prominent

Higher vertex

Upper/lower jaws and

teeth larger

Thinner walls than male

Muscular ridges less pronounced

More rounded

Lighter and smaller

Cranial capacity 10% less than that of the male

Smoother facial bones

Male Female

Surface Bones of the Cranium

Surface Bones of the Cranium

Changes resulting from loss of teeth

Reduction in the size of upper and lower

jaws

Alteration of the angles of the jaws

Reduction of the vertical length of the

face

Surface Bones of the Cranium

Occipital bone (1)

Base/back of the skull

Has the foramen magnum Permits entry of the

spinal cord and used in decapitation restorations

See figure 3 regarding eminences and occipital protuberance

Surface Bones of the Cranium

Parietal bones (2)

Form the superior

portion of the sides

and back and posterior

2/3 of the roof

Forms the widest part

of the cranium at the

parietal eminences

Note location

anatomically in regard to

the ear

Surface Bones of the Cranium Temporal bones (2)

Located inferior to the parietal bones and anterior to the occipital bone

The squama is the vertical portion of the temporal bone

Four anatomical structures for accurate location of the ear (see figure 4 pg. 38)

External auditory meatus

Mandibular fossa

Zygomatic arch

Mastoid process

Surface Bones of the Cranium Zygomatic arches (2)

Location – lowest part of the squama; directly superior to the ear passage and extends anteriorly to the cheekbone

Two restorative values

Establish widest part of the face

Locate correct position of a modeled ear

Mastoid processes (2)

Location – on the undersurface of the temporal bone

Helps to locate the posterior lobe of the ear

Surface Bones of the Cranium

Frontal bone (1) Location – forms the

forehead and the anterior portion of the roof of the skull

Surfaces Vertical – (forehead) from

the eye sockets to the frontal eminences

Horizontal –(crown,vertex) from the frontal eminences superiorly to the parietal bones

Eminences of the frontal bone Frontal eminences (2)

Supraorbital margins (2)

Superciliary arches (2)

Glabella (1)