Frontal Skull Study

"Docendo discimus" is a Latin phrase meaning "by teaching, we learn."

Today I made a study of the front of the skull, with the book Atlas of Human Anatomy for the Artist, by Stephen Rogers Peck as a guide. I bought it at least a year ago from an antiques store, but never really read it. If I wish to obtain the level of artistic ability I want, at least in terms of human anatomy, then this book is my best friend. 

"The upholstery, he (the student) forgets, cannot by itself have form but takes its broad lines from the frame over which it stretches." Introduction to skeletal structure, p. 2.

I tried to make a copy of the "geography" of the front skull. Even though it's in the book, it helps me remember when I take notes. 

The skull is constructed from 22 different bones which fused together, form the head. It terms of the face, which is what I studied, there are 14: 2 Zygomatics, 2 Lacrimals, 2 Nasals, 1 Vomer, 2 Nasal Conchae, 2 Palates, 2 Maxillae, and 1 Mandibula.

The Zygomatic bones are the cheekbones, which protrude above the lower jaw. It sort of forms a triangle, with the upper point proceeding up the side of the head and forming what is called the zygomatic process, at least of the frontal bone, which makes that divot behind and to the side of the eye sockets. The other point, which extends medially (toward the midline) and forms the lower rim below the eye. The third point which goes down and meets the temporal bone at the lower side of the head, forming the zygomatic arch.

The Nasal bones form that slight slanting protrusion over the nose cavity.

The Maxillae "constitute the chief body of the upper jaw and give roots to its teeth", as Mr. Peck puts it. The Maxillae do compose the lower front of the face, the teeth and the nasal spine of the nose, and the dental arch which hold the upper row of teeth, and the hard palate, or the roof of the mouth. The Maxillae of both sides meet to complete the inverted-heart form of the nose, and produce the canine fossa just under the orbits (eye sockets), which are filled with cheek muscles. Note: I appear to have made a mistake in my study of this area, as the segment highlighted in blue and named the Maxillae, though part of it, do not constitute the whole of it.

The Mandibula is the whole of the lower jawbone, under the maxillae, under which it is called the body. The lower row of teeth "take root" in the dental arch of this bone. The noticeable part of the chin, the center area, is called the mental protuberance, and on each side of that are the mental tubercles, which define the chin's square shape. Each back corner of the mandibula, of the sharp rear parts of the jaw, is the angle of the mandibula. The angle makes a near right turn, approximately 120 degrees, into the ramus, which ultimately connects to the upper skull, at the zygomatic arch.

This is what I have gathered from my reading of the section on the frontal skull. I may have, actually, probably, have made some errors either in the drawing of mine, or the descriptions here. If I am wrong please let me know.