Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 12, 2026
08:15
Reverse Dissection and DiceCT Reveal Otherwise Hidden Data in the Evolution of the Primate Face
Published on: January 7, 2019
7.4K
The facial skeleton: Armor to the brain?
Satishkumar G Patil1, Bindu S Patil2, Udupikrishna Joshi1
1Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, H.K.E's S. Nijalingappa Institute of Dental Sciences and Research, Gulbarga, Karnataka, India.
Indian Journal of Dentistry
|November 1, 2016
Summary
Facial fractures indicate a high risk of associated head injuries, as the facial skeleton does not protect the brain. Trauma patients with facial fractures require immediate head injury assessment.
Area of Science:
- Traumatology
- Neurosurgery
- Emergency Medicine
Background:
- Road traffic accidents are a leading cause of mortality in urban areas.
- Facial fractures are common in trauma and may be linked to neuro-cranial injuries.
- Conflicting literature exists on whether facial bones protect the brain or indicate head trauma.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the correlation between facial fractures and head injuries.
- To determine if the facial skeleton offers protection against brain injury.
Main Methods:
- A prospective study was conducted over two years (August 2013-July 2015).
- 100 patients with facial fractures reporting to the emergency department were enrolled.
- Data collected included fracture patterns, head injury presence, and severity using the Glasgow Coma Scale.
Main Results:
- 51% of patients with facial fractures sustained head injuries.
- The mandible and zygomatico-maxillary complex were the most common facial fractures.
- Head-injured patients predominantly had upper or middle third facial fractures and lower Glasgow Coma Scale scores.
Conclusions:
- The facial skeleton does not cushion the brain from impact.
- Facial trauma patients must be evaluated for potential head injuries.
- Early recognition and management of associated head injuries are crucial in facial trauma cases.
Related Concept Videos
01:08Overview of the Skull
8.6K
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...
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...
8.6K
01:14Cranial Bones: Superior and Posterior View
8.4K
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,...
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,...
8.4K
01:09Overview of the Axial Skeleton
13.2K
The skeleton is subdivided into two major divisions—the axial skeleton and the appendicular skeleton. The axial skeleton forms the vertical, central axis of the body. It includes all of the bones of the head, neck, chest, and back. It protects the brain, spinal cord, heart, and lungs. It also serves as the attachment site for muscles that move the head, neck, and back and for muscles that act across the shoulder and hip joints to move their corresponding limbs.
The axial skeleton of the...
The axial skeleton of the...
13.2K
01:22Sutures of the Skull
13.9K
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...
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...
13.9K
01:27Cranial Bones: Lateral View
7.7K
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...
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...
7.7K
01:14Muscles for Facial Expressions
5.4K
The craniofacial muscles are a collection of approximately 20 thin skeletal muscles situated beneath the skin of the face and scalp. These muscles, primarily responsible for the vast array of human facial expressions, originate from the bones or fibrous structures of the skull and extend outwards to connect with the skin. While most skeletal muscles in the body are enveloped in thick fascia, facial muscles generally have a more delicate fascial covering, with the buccinator muscle being a...
5.4K