Sphenoid

The sphenoid bone is a large, complex, unpaired bone forming the central parts of the anterior and central skull base.

Gross anatomy

Parts of the sphenoid bone include:

• body
• greater wing
• lesser wing
• pterygoid process and plates

Articulations

The sphenoid bone articulates with twelve bones:

• unpaired bones include: frontal, ethmoid, vomer, and occipital
• paired bones include: zygomatic, parietal, temporal, and palatine.

Fissures, foramina, grooves and canals

The sphenoid bone includes:

• optic canal
• superior orbital fissure
• foramen rotundum
• pterygoid canal
• foramen ovale
• foramen spinosum
• carotid groove

History and etymology

Galen (129-199) first described the bone by this name. It is derived from the Greek σφήν (sphen) meaning wedge. Some sources claim that the intended name was sphecoid, derived from Greek σφηξ (sphex) meaning wasp, but was inaccurately copied or translated .

Siehe auch:

• Keilbeinmeningeom
• Raumforderungen des Clivus
• Schädel

und weiter:

• Clivus
• skull
• Sinus sphenoidalis