Joints of Skull

Joint

Bone involved in
joint

Histological
classification of
joint

Mechanical
classification of
joint

Sutures

Skull bones

Sutures are
histologically
Fibrous joints

Sutures are
mechanically
immobile joints

Joint Movements

Temporomandibular - Mandible
joint
- Temporal bone

Temporomandibular Temporomandibular - Elevation

joints are
joints mechanically
histologically
hinge joints
- Depression
Synovial joints

Teeth joints

Teeth joints are

histologically
Fibrous joints

Teeth joints are

mechanically
immobile joints

Atlanto-occipital
joint are
histologically
synovial joints

Atlanto-occipital
joint are
mechanically hinge
joints

- Teeth
- Mandible

Atlanto-occipital
joint

- Maxilla
- Occipital
- Atlas

- Flexion
- Extension

Muscles
involved

- Masseter
- Temporalis

Posterior Neck
Muscles

Muscles of the Skull

Muscle/Muscle group

Group

Attachments

Major Actions of Muscle

Masseter

Muscles of Mastication

From: Zygomatic arch

- Elevate Mandible

To: Mandible
Temporalis

Muscles of Mastication

From: Temporal fossa

- Elevate Mandible

To: Mandible
Muscles of Facial Expression

Muscles of Facial Expression

Face

- Facial Expressions

Posterior Neck Muscle

Posterior Neck Muscle

From: Nuchal region

- Extend Atlanto-occipital Joint

To: Cervical vertebrae

- Involved in maintaining Posture

(i.e. postural actions)

Comparison of major structure in Skull of Hominoids

Structure
Neurocranium
size

Masticatory
Apparatus

Ape: Chimpanzee
(Pan Troglodytes)
400cc

Ardipithecus

Australopithecus

Homo erectus

Humans

350cc

450cc

800cc

1250-1700cc

- Apes have large

Temporal fossa,
Supraorbital
ridges, Zygomatic
arches

- Ardipithecus
have small
canines

- Australopithecus
have medium
sized Temporal
fossa,
Supraorbital
ridges, Zygomatic
arches

- Homo erectus
have prognanthic
face

- humans have
small Temporal
fossa,
Supraorbital
ridges, Zygomatic
arches

- Apes have large

Jaw
- Apes have
Square jaw
- Apes have 32
teeth

- Ardipithecus
have small
diastema
- Ardipithecus
have some
posterior
dominance
- Ardipithecus
have small

- Australopithecus
have medium
sized jaw
- Australopithecus
have 32 teeth

- Humans have
small round jaw
- Humans have 32
teeth
- Humans have
posterior

Functional
correlation
Neurocranium
size reflect
cognitive and
social ability
Masticatory
apparatus affects
diet

- Apes have
diastema
- Apes have
anterior
predominance

prognanthic face

- Australopithecus
have curved Jaw

predominance

- Australopithecus
have posterior
predominance

- Apes have
prognanthic face
Position of
Atlanto-occipital
joint (AOJ)

Apes have
Posterior Atlantooccipital joint

Australopithecus
have Anterior
Atlanto-occipital
joint

Homo Erectus
have Anterior
Atlanto-occipital
joint

Humans have
Anterior Atlantooccipital joint

Size of Nuchal
region

Apes have large

nuchal region

Australopithecus
Homo Erectus
Humans have
have intermediate have Intermediate small Nuchal
nuchal region
Nuchal region
region

Position of
Atlanto-occipital
joint affects head
balance and
alignment in
bipedal
locomotion
Size of nuchal
region reflects
size of muscle
attachments, thus
reflect muscle
activity to keel
eyes horizontal

Posterior Neck Muscles in Hominoid Species

Size of Posterior Neck

Muscles

Ape
Large

Australopithecus
Medium

Humans
small