Where the sphenoid bone sits in the skeleton
The sphenoid bone is a butterfly-shaped bone lying across the middle of the skull base. The pituitary gland sits in a hollow on its upper surface (the sella turcica). It has a body, greater and lesser wings and downward pterygoid processes, and its body holds the sphenoid sinus. It touches all seven of the other cranial bones.
Frequently asked questions
Which part of the skeleton is the sphenoid bone in?
The sphenoid bone is one of the bones of the skull and hyoid. This group covers the bones that enclose the brain, the bones that frame the face, and the hyoid at the front of the neck.
How many bones are in the skull?
The skull has 22 bones: eight cranial bones that enclose the brain and fourteen facial bones that frame the face. The hyoid in the front of the neck is a separate bone that forms no joint with any other bone.
Is there one sphenoid bone or a pair?
There is just one sphenoid bone, on the midline of the body.
How many cranial bones does the sphenoid touch?
All seven of the others: the frontal bone, both parietal bones, both temporal bones, the occipital bone and the ethmoid.
Other bones of the skull and hyoid
- Frontal bone
- Parietal bone
- Temporal bone
- Occipital bone
- Ethmoid
- Zygomatic bone
- Maxilla
- Mandible
- Nasal bone
- Lacrimal bone
- Palatine bone
- Vomer
- Inferior nasal concha
- Hyoid bone
Bone counts
By region
Read more
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