Human Anatomy - Kotsan I. Y. 2009

Skull skeleton
Buttresses of the skull

In certain areas, the Skull features thickenings known as buttresses (counterforts). They help absorb the force of shocks and mechanical impacts that the skull experiences during walking, running, chewing, as well as certain sports (such as boxing and football). These buttresses act as support structures within the skull, situated between its thinner regions. There are four distinct buttresses: the mandibular, frontonasal, zygomaticotemporal, and pterygopalatine (Fig. 49).

The mandibular buttress is a thickening in the body of the Mandible that abuts its dental alveoli on one side and extends along the bone to its neck and HEAD. During mastication, pressure is transmitted from the mandible to the Temporal bone via the mandibular head.

The other three buttresses resemble curved pillars that rest inferiorly on the alveolar arch of the Maxilla and extend superiorly into the BONES OF THE facial and neurocranium.

The frontonasal buttress originates inferiorly at the thickened walls of the canine socket and adjacent Teeth. It ascends as a dense plate of the frontal process of the maxilla, reaching the outer margin of the nasal part of the Frontal bone.

The zygomaticotemporal buttress is the most prominent; it begins at the thickenings of the first two molar sockets and extends upward from the Zygomatic bone, which articulates laterally and posteriorly with the zygomatic process of the temporal bone, and superiorly with the frontal bone.

The pterygopalatine buttress is formed by the pterygoid process of the Sphenoid bone and the perpendicular plate of the Palatine bone. It is joined by the posterior portion of the alveolar process of the maxilla on one side and the maxillary tuberosity on the other.

Class="center">

Fig. 49. Buttresses of the skull

1 — frontonasal, 2 — zygomaticotemporal, 3 — pterygopalatine, 4 — mandibular