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Ch. 7 The Skeletal System
Amerman - Human Anatomy & Physiology 2nd Edition
Amerman2nd EditionHuman Anatomy & PhysiologyISBN: 9780136873822Not the one you use?Change textbook
All textbooksAmerman 2nd EditionCh. 7 The Skeletal SystemProblem 5
Chapter 7, Problem 5

The only moveable bone in the adult skull is the:


a. Maxilla
b. Lacrimal bone
c. Mandible
d. Frontal bone

Verified step by step guidance
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Step 1: Understand the anatomy of the adult skull. The human skull is composed of several bones, most of which are fused together and immovable. However, there is one bone that is moveable and plays a key role in functions like chewing and speaking.
Step 2: Review the function and location of each option provided in the question: a) Maxilla, b) Lacrimal bone, c) Mandible, and d) Frontal bone.
Step 3: Recall that the maxilla is the upper jawbone and is fused to the skull, making it immovable. The lacrimal bone is a small bone in the medial wall of the orbit and is also immovable. The frontal bone forms the forehead and is fused to the skull as well.
Step 4: Identify the mandible as the lower jawbone, which is connected to the skull via the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). This joint allows the mandible to move, making it the only moveable bone in the adult skull.
Step 5: Conclude that the correct answer is the mandible, as it is the only bone in the adult skull that is moveable due to its articulation with the temporal bone at the TMJ.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Anatomy of the Skull

The human skull is composed of two main parts: the cranial bones, which protect the brain, and the facial bones, which form the structure of the face. Most skull bones are fused together and immovable, except for one key bone that allows for movement.
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Mandible

The mandible, or lower jawbone, is the only moveable bone in the adult skull. It connects to the temporal bone at the temporomandibular joint, allowing for essential functions such as chewing and speaking.
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Types of Skull Bones

Skull bones can be categorized into cranial bones, which encase the brain, and facial bones, which support the face. Understanding these categories helps in identifying which bones are movable and which are fixed, highlighting the unique role of the mandible.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question

Mark the following statements as true or false. If a statement is false, correct it to make a true statement.


c. The sella turcica of the sphenoid bone houses the pituitary gland.

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Textbook Question

Mark the following statements as true or false. If a statement is false, correct it to make a true statement.


d. The styloid process of the temporal bone is a thick, posterior projection.

Textbook Question

The structure(s) that divide the nasal cavity into right and left sides is/are the:


a. Nasal bones

b. Perpendicular plate of the ethmoid bone

c. Vomer

d. Both a and b are correct

e. Both b and c are correct

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Textbook Question

Mark the following statements as true or false. If a statement is false, correct it to make a true statement.


e. The most conspicuous feature of the temporal bone is the foramen magnum.

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Textbook Question

Mark the following statements as true or false. If a statement is false, correct it to make a true statement.


a. The thoracic and sacral curvatures are the vertebral column's concave curvatures.

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Textbook Question

The 'soft spots' in an infant's skull are known as:


a. Fontanels

b. Sutures

c. Metopic joints

d. Hyaline cartilage

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