Human Anatomy Part 1 - K. A. Dyubenko, A. K. Kolomiytsev, Y. B. Chaykovsky 2002

Special Part
Axial Skeleton, sceleton axiale - Bones of the facial skull
Zygomatic bone

The zygomatic bone, os zygomaticum, is a paired, irregularly shaped bone (Fig. 46) formed by thick plates of compact bone enclosing spongy Bone tissue. It presents three surfaces: the lateral surface, facies lateralis, the orbital surface, facies orbitalis, and the temporal surface, facies temporalis. The lateral surface, facies lateralis, is convex, quadrilateral in shape, and features the zygomaticofacial foramen, foramen zygomaticofaciale. The orbital surface, facies orbitalis, contributes to The formation of the floor and lateral wall of the Orbit, and also completes the infraorbital margin inferiorly. It bears the zygomaticoorbital foramen, foramen zygomatico-orbitale.

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Fig. 46. Zygomatic bone, os zygomaticus.

A - external surface; B - internal surface

The temporal surface, facies temporalis, contributes to the Formation of the infratemporal fossa. The frontal process extends upward from the superior angle of the bone, participating in the formation of the frontozygomatic and sphenozygomatic sutures. The temporal surface contains the zygomaticotemporal foramen, foramen zygomaticotemporale, for the passage of the NERVES OF THE same name (Branches of the V cranial nerve pair). This foramen leads into a canal with two openings—the zygomaticofacial and zygomaticotemporal foramina. This canal transmits the zygomatic nerve, artery, and vein. The temporal process, processus temporalis, extends backward from the posterior angle of the zygomatic bone and, together with the zygomatic process of the Temporal bone, forms the zygomatic arch.

Ossification. The zygomatic bone develops through membranous and osseous stages. Two to three ossification centers appear at the beginning of the 3rd month of prenatal development.