Video: Viscerocranium

Ever wondered what gives your face its shape, lets you chew, smile, or nail that perfect selfie angle?

Say hello to the viscerocranium-—the unsung hero of your skull!

It’s the part of your skull that’s all about the face-—your cheekbones, jawline, nose, and eye sockets all rely on it.

Also called the facial skeleton, the viscerocranium is one of the two main parts of the skull, the other part being the neurocranium, which the viscerocranium sits in front of. From this side profile, you can see how the neurocranium wraps around the viscerocranium from above and behind.

This region is made up of several bones that shape the face and form parts of the upper and lower jaws.

But why is the viscerocranium so important? Let’s face the facts:

It’s responsible for actions like chewing and speaking. It’s also responsible for forming parts of the airway and digestive tract, such as the nose and mouth, and protecting sensory organs like the eyes and nasal cavity.

Let’s now take a closer look at the bones that make it all happen!

Let’s start with the nasal bones. These are a pair of small bones that sit at the roof of the face, between the right and left halves of the maxilla.

Together, they form the bridge of the nose. The superior part of the nasal bone articulates with the frontal bone.

Next up is the maxilla-—the largest facial bone. Also known as the upper jaw, it plays a key role in forming the orbit, nose, and hard palate.

The maxilla houses the upper teeth and is crucial for chewing, or mastication. Many of the muscles of facial expression attach here too.

Moving on to the zygomatic bone, this bone acts as a bridge between the neurocranium and the viscerocranium.

It creates the lateral prominence of the face-—what we commonly call the cheekbone-—where it joins the temporal bone to form the zygomatic arch.

Now, let’s talk about the mandible-—the lower jaw. It shapes the chin and defines the jawline.

The mandible is actually not part of the skull; instead, it’s a separate bone that connects to the skull at the temporomandibular joint.

Thanks to the mandible, we can speak, chew, and open our mouths.

The lacrimal bone is located on the medial wall of the eye socket, or bony orbit.

It houses the lacrimal sac, which is part of the tear drainage system, and helps support the structures inside the orbit.

Lastly, we have the sphenoid bone. It has both a greater wing and a lesser wing, which form the back wall of the orbit.

This bone contains important openings like the optic canal, and the superior and inferior orbital fissures, through which nerves and vessels pass.

That wraps up our overview of the viscerocranium!

Next time you take a selfie, you can thank your viscerocranium for giving you that perfect profile!

And while you’re on your phone, don’t forget to check out our atlas and quizzes at Kenhub. See you next time!