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Related Concept Videos

Cranial Bones: Lateral View01:27

Cranial Bones: Lateral View

The lateral view of the cranium is dominated by temporal, sphenoid, and ethmoid bones.
The temporal bone forms the lower lateral side of the skull. The temporal bone is subdivided into several regions. The flattened upper portion is the squamous portion of the temporal bone. Below this area and projecting anteriorly is the zygomatic process of the temporal bone, which forms the posterior portion of the zygomatic arch. Posteriorly is the mastoid portion of the temporal bone. Projecting...
Bone Formation by Intramembranous Ossification01:29

Bone Formation by Intramembranous Ossification

Intramembranous ossification is one of the two processes involved in the development of bones within an embryo. The flat bones of the face, most of the cranial bones, and the clavicles are formed via this process. During intramembranous ossification, the bones develop directly from sheets of undifferentiated mesenchymal connective tissue.
The process begins when mesenchymal cells in the embryonic skeleton gather together and differentiate into osteogenic cells, which then develop into...
Cranial Bones: Superior and Posterior View01:14

Cranial Bones: Superior and Posterior View

The superior view of the cranium shows the frontal and paired parietal bones.
The frontal bone is the single bone that forms the forehead. At its anterior midline, between the eyebrows, there is a slight depression called the glabella. The frontal bone also forms the supraorbital margin of the orbit. Near the middle of this margin is the supraorbital foramen, the opening that provides passage for a sensory nerve to the forehead. The frontal bone is thickened just above each supraorbital margin,...
Sutures of the Skull01:22

Sutures of the Skull

The human skull is composed of several bones that come together to protect the brain and support the structures of the face. The junctions where these bones meet are called sutures.
Sutures are immobile joints between adjacent bones of the skull. The narrow gap between the bones is filled with dense, fibrous connective tissue that unites the bones. The long sutures located between the skull bones are not straight but instead follow irregular, tightly twisting paths. These twisting lines tightly...
Overview of the Skull01:08

Overview of the Skull

The cranium (skull) is the skeletal structure of the head that supports the face and protects the brain. It is subdivided into the facial bones and the brain case, or cranial vault. The facial bones underlie the facial structures, form the nasal cavity, enclose the eyeballs, and support the teeth of the upper and lower jaws.
The cranial vault surrounds and protects the brain and houses the middle and inner ear structures. This cavity is bounded superiorly by the rounded top of the skull, which...
Bone Markings01:26

Bone Markings

Bones have various surface features that help form joints and attach to other soft tissues. Depending on the function, bone markings are categorized into articulating projections, processes for attachment, depressions, and openings.
Articulating Projections
Articulating projections are found where two bones meet to form a joint. These structures are usually found at the ends of bones. The largest articulation is a rounded projection called the head, supported by a narrow neck at the ends of...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 20, 2026

Ocular Kinematics Measured by In Vitro Stimulation of the Cranial Nerves in the Turtle
10:49

Ocular Kinematics Measured by In Vitro Stimulation of the Cranial Nerves in the Turtle

Published on: June 2, 2018

Temporal bone arrangements in turtles: an overview.

Ingmar Werneburg1

  • 1Fachbereich Geowissenschaften der Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany. ingmar_werneburg@ yahoo.de

Journal of Experimental Zoology. Part B, Molecular and Developmental Evolution
|July 24, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Turtles exhibit diverse temporal bone anatomy, offering insights into amniote skull evolution. Ten factors, including jaw muscles and skull dimensions, shape these unique structures, providing a model for evolutionary studies.

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Area of Science:

  • Paleontology
  • Comparative Anatomy
  • Evolutionary Biology

Background:

  • Turtles possess a unique anapsid morphotype with diverse temporal bone emarginations.
  • This diversity makes turtles a valuable model for understanding amniote temporal bone evolution.
  • Previous research has explored various factors influencing skull morphology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review and synthesize existing literature on factors shaping the turtle temporal region.
  • To highlight ten key factors influencing turtle skull anatomy.
  • To emphasize the interplay between jaw musculature and cranial armor.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of historical and potentially overlooked studies.
  • Synthesis of anatomical and evolutionary data.
  • Focus on the interrelationship between jaw musculature and dermatocranial armor.

Main Results:

  • Ten factors identified: phylogenetic constraints, skull weight, diet, dimensions, muscle bulging, ear/jaw mechanics, muscle attachment, internal forces, environment, and neck mechanics.
  • Cranial dimensions and jaw musculature are significant influences.
  • Turtles display a unique intermixture of features potentially reflecting these factors.

Conclusions:

  • Turtle temporal bone diversity provides a model for amniote skull evolution.
  • Interactions between jaw muscles and cranial armor are crucial.
  • Historical anatomical insights can inspire future research despite varying empirical demands.