Bone
Temporal bone
Skull-base housing for the ear and facial nerve
High-yield
The petrous portion surrounds the inner ear. CN VII and VIII enter the internal acoustic meatus. The mastoid process is an external landmark behind the ear; the styloid process lies deeper.
Overview
Each temporal bone contributes to the side and base of the skull. It encloses the middle and inner ear, forms part of the temporomandibular joint and provides passages for the internal carotid artery and several cranial nerves.
Reference facts
- Bone type
- Irregular cranial bone
- Key landmarks
- Squamous, petrous, mastoid and tympanic parts; zygomatic, mastoid and styloid processes; mandibular fossa; external and internal acoustic passages; carotid canal; contribution to the jugular foramen
- Articulations
- Parietal, occipital, sphenoid and zygomatic bones, and the mandible at the temporomandibular joint
Clinical correlation
Temporal bone fractures may cause hearing loss, facial weakness or cerebrospinal-fluid leakage. Bruising over the mastoid, called Battle sign, can accompany a skull-base fracture; these findings are not present in every case.
Frequently asked questions
What type of bone is the temporal bone?
The temporal bone is an irregular cranial bone bone.
What does the temporal bone articulate with?
The temporal bone articulates with the parietal, occipital, sphenoid and zygomatic bones, and the mandible at the temporomandibular joint.
What are the key landmarks of the temporal bone?
Squamous, petrous, mastoid and tympanic parts; zygomatic, mastoid and styloid processes; mandibular fossa; external and internal acoustic passages; carotid canal; contribution to the jugular foramen.