Zygomatic bone
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| Bone: Zygomatic bone | ||
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| Left zygomatic bone in situ. | ||
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| Side view of the teeth and jaws. (Zygomatic visible in center.) | ||
| Latin | os zygomaticum, zygoma | |
| Gray's | subject #40 164 | |
The zygomatic bone (malar bone) is a paired bone of the human skull. It articulates with the maxilla, the temporal bone, the sphenoid bone and the frontal bone. It forms part of the orbit and is commonly referred to as the cheekbone. It is situated at the upper and lateral part of the face: it forms the prominence of the cheek, part of the lateral wall and floor of the orbit, and parts of the temporal and infratemporal fossae [Fig. 1]. It presents a malar and a temporal surface; four processes, the frontosphenoidal, orbital, maxillary, and temporal; and four borders.
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[edit] Surfaces
The malar surface is convex and perforated near its center by a small aperture, the zygomaticofacial foramen, for the passage of the zygomaticofacial nerve and vessels; below this foramen is a slight elevation, which gives origin to the Zygomaticus.
The temporal surface, directed backward and medialward, is concave, presenting medially a rough, triangular area, for articulation with the maxilla, and laterally a smooth, concave surface, the upper part of which forms the anterior boundary of the temporal fossa, the lower a part of the infratemporal fossa. Near the center of this surface is the zygomaticotemporal foramen for the transmission of the zygomaticotemporal nerve.
[edit] Processes
The frontosphenoidal process is thick and serrated, and articulates with the zygomatic process of the frontal bone. On its orbital surface, just within the orbital margin and about 11 mm below the zygomaticofrontal suture is a tubercle of varying size and form, but present in 95 per cent of skulls (Whitnall 43).
The orbital process is a thick, strong plate, projecting backward and medialward from the orbital margin.
The maxillary process presents a rough, triangular surface which articulates with the maxilla.
The temporal process, long, narrow, and serrated, articulates with the zygomatic process of the temporal.
[edit] Borders
The antero-superior or orbital border is smooth, concave, and forms a considerable part of the circumference of the orbit.
The antero-inferior or maxillary border is rough, and bevelled at the expense of its inner table, to articulate with the maxilla; near the orbital margin it gives origin to the Quadratus labii superioris.
The postero-superior or temporal border, curved like an italic letter f, is continuous above with the commencement of the temporal line, and below with the upper border of the zygomatic arch; the temporal fascia is attached to it.
The postero-inferior or zygomatic border affords attachment by its rough edge to the Masseter.
[edit] Ossification
The zygomatic bone is generally described as ossifying from three centers - one for the malar and two for the orbital portion; these appear about the eighth week and fuse about the fifth month of fetal life.
Mall describes it as being ossified from one center which appears just beneath and to the lateral side of the orbit.
After birth, the bone is sometimes divided by a horizontal suture into an upper larger, and a lower smaller division.
In some quadrumana the zygomatic bone consists of two parts, an orbital and a malar.
[edit] Articulations
The zygomatic articulates with four bones: the frontal, sphenoidal, temporal, and maxilla.
[edit] Additional illustrations
 The seven bones which articulate to form the orbit. |
 Facial bones. |
 Left zygomatic bone. Malar surface. |
 Left zygomatic bone. Temporal surface. |
 Articulation of left palatine bone with maxilla. |
 Side view of the skull. |
 Left infratemporal fossa. |
 The skull from the front. |
 Horizontal section of nasal and orbital cavities. |
 Left orbicularis oculi, seen from behind. |
 Nerves of the orbit, and the ciliary ganglion. Side view. |
[edit] Beauty
High cheek bones are seen as a sign of beauty in many cultures and is a characteristic of many high fashion models. See http://www.femininebeauty.info/cheekbones.htm for examples of high vs. normal cheekbones.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained herein may be outdated. Please edit the article if this is the case, and feel free to remove this notice when it is no longer relevant.
| The Bones which form the Orbit |  |
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| Frontal bone • Zygomatic bone • Maxillary bone • Sphenoid bone • Ethmoid bone • Palatine bone • Lacrimal bone |
