Osteology of Head in Human Anatomy MCQ Questions and Answers

1. Which bone forms the forehead and the superior part of the orbit?
A) Frontal bone
B) Parietal bone
C) Temporal bone
D) Sphenoid bone
Answer: A) Frontal bone

2. The pterion is the junction of which bones?
A) Frontal, maxilla, zygomatic, sphenoid
B) Frontal, parietal, temporal (squamous part) and sphenoid (greater wing)
C) Parietal, occipital, temporal, sphenoid
D) Frontal, nasal, lacrimal, ethmoid
Answer: B) Frontal, parietal, temporal and sphenoid

3. The foramen ovale transmits which structure?
A) Mandibular nerve (V3)
B) Maxillary nerve (V2)
C) Middle meningeal artery
D) Glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX)
Answer: A) Mandibular nerve (V3)

4. The greater wing of the sphenoid contributes to which cranial fossa?
A) Anterior cranial fossa
B) Middle cranial fossa
C) Posterior cranial fossa
D) None of the above
Answer: B) Middle cranial fossa

5. Which bone contains the cribriform plate and crista galli?
A) Sphenoid
B) Frontal
C) Ethmoid
D) Nasal
Answer: C) Ethmoid

6. The internal acoustic meatus transmits which pair of cranial nerves?
A) CN V and CN VI
B) CN VII (facial) and CN VIII (vestibulocochlear)
C) CN IX and CN X
D) CN II and CN III
Answer: B) CN VII and CN VIII

7. Which foramen allows passage of the middle meningeal artery?
A) Foramen rotundum
B) Foramen spinosum
C) Foramen ovale
D) Jugular foramen
Answer: B) Foramen spinosum

8. The occipital condyles articulate with which vertebral structure?
A) Axis (C2) body
B) Transverse processes of atlas
C) Superior articular facets of the atlas (C1)
D) Dens of axis
Answer: C) Superior articular facets of the atlas (C1)

9. The mandible develops principally by which type of ossification?
A) Endochondral ossification
B) Mixed endochondral and intramembranous
C) Intramembranous ossification
D) Cartilaginous replacement only
Answer: C) Intramembranous ossification

10. The mental foramen is located on which part of the mandible?
A) Ramus
B) Body (anterolateral surface)
C) Coronoid process
D) Alveolar process of ramus
Answer: B) Body (anterolateral surface)

11. Which suture connects the two parietal bones?
A) Coronal suture
B) Lambdoid suture
C) Sagittal suture
D) Squamous suture
Answer: C) Sagittal suture

12. The hypoglossal canal transmits which cranial nerve?
A) CN X
B) CN XII (hypoglossal)
C) CN XI
D) CN IX
Answer: B) CN XII (hypoglossal)

13. Which bone forms the posterolateral wall and floor of the orbit?
A) Maxilla only
B) Zygomatic bone
C) Lacrimal bone
D) Nasal bone
Answer: B) Zygomatic bone

14. The stylomastoid foramen transmits which structure?
A) CN IX
B) Facial nerve (CN VII) — motor root exiting skull
C) Internal jugular vein
D) Hypoglossal nerve (CN XII)
Answer: B) Facial nerve (CN VII)

15. The greater palatine foramen is found in which bone?
A) Maxilla
B) Palatine bone (horizontal plate)
C) Vomer
D) Sphenoid
Answer: B) Palatine bone (horizontal plate)

16. Which part of the temporal bone contains the cochlea?
A) Squamous part
B) Petrous part
C) Mastoid part
D) Tympanic part
Answer: B) Petrous part

17. The optic canal transmits which structures?
A) Ophthalmic nerve (V1) only
B) Optic nerve (CN II) and ophthalmic artery
C) Trochlear nerve and superior ophthalmic vein
D) Oculomotor nerve only
Answer: B) Optic nerve (CN II) and ophthalmic artery

18. The vomer forms part of which structure?
A) Lateral nasal wall
B) Nasal septum (posteroinferior part)
C) Medial wall of orbit
D) Roof of mouth
Answer: B) Nasal septum (posteroinferior part)

19. The sella turcica is a feature of which bone?
A) Ethmoid
B) Frontal
C) Sphenoid
D) Temporal
Answer: C) Sphenoid

20. Which foramen transmits the maxillary nerve (V2)?
A) Foramen ovale
B) Foramen rotundum
C) Infraorbital foramen
D) Mental foramen
Answer: B) Foramen rotundum

21. The tympanic part of the temporal bone contributes to which structure?
A) External acoustic meatus (bony part)
B) Mastoid air cells
C) External acoustic meatus and bony tympanic ring
D) Zygomatic arch
Answer: C) External acoustic meatus and bony tympanic ring

22. Which structure is formed by the union of the temporal process of the zygomatic bone and the zygomatic process of the temporal bone?
A) Pterion
B) Zygomatic arch
C) Lambdoid suture
D) Asterion
Answer: B) Zygomatic arch

23. The mandibular foramen is located on which surface of the mandible?
A) Anterior border of ramus
B) Mental surface
C) Medial surface of the ramus
D) Lateral surface of the body
Answer: C) Medial surface of the ramus

24. Which cranial bone houses the cribriform plate for the olfactory nerves?
A) Frontal
B) Ethmoid
C) Sphenoid
D) Temporal
Answer: B) Ethmoid

25. The frontal sinus drains into which nasal meatus?
A) Superior meatus
B) Middle meatus
C) Inferior meatus
D) Sphenoethmoidal recess
Answer: B) Middle meatus

26. The asterion marks the junction of which sutures/bones?
A) Coronal and sagittal
B) Parietal, occipital and mastoid part of temporal (junction of lambdoid, parietomastoid and occipitomastoid regions)
C) Frontal, parietal and sphenoid
D) Nasal and maxilla
Answer: B) Parietal, occipital and mastoid part of temporal

27. The mandibular condyle articulates with which skull feature?
A) Glenoid fossa (mandibular fossa) of temporal bone
B) Mandibular fossa (glenoid fossa) of temporal bone
C) Pterygoid process of sphenoid
D) Zygomatic arch
Answer: B) Mandibular fossa (glenoid fossa) of temporal bone

28. Which bone contains the foramen magnum?
A) Occipital bone
B) Occipital bone
C) Atlas (C1)
D) Sphenoid bone
Answer: B) Occipital bone

29. The infraorbital foramen is a feature of which bone?
A) Zygomatic bone
B) Maxilla
C) Frontal bone
D) Palatine bone
Answer: B) Maxilla

30. Which bone contributes to the lateral wall of the nasal cavity and contains superior and middle conchae?
A) Maxilla
B) Ethmoid (ethmoidal labyrinths)
C) Inferior nasal concha
D) Palatine bone
Answer: B) Ethmoid (ethmoidal labyrinths)

31. The lesser wing of the sphenoid separates which two structures?
A) Anterior cranial fossa and middle cranial fossa
B) Middle cranial fossa and posterior cranial fossa
C) Orbit and nasal cavity
D) Temporal fossa and infratemporal fossa
Answer: A) Anterior cranial fossa and middle cranial fossa

32. The foramen lacerum in life is mainly filled with:
A) Internal carotid artery
B) Cartilage and some emissary veins (not a major artery in life)
C) Mandibular nerve (V3)
D) Middle meningeal artery
Answer: B) Cartilage and some emissary veins

33. The suture between frontal and parietal bones is called:
A) Lambdoid suture
B) Coronal suture
C) Squamous suture
D) Sagittal suture
Answer: B) Coronal suture

34. Which bone forms the posterior part of the hard palate?
A) Maxilla (palatine process)
B) Palatine bone (horizontal plate)
C) Vomer
D) Nasal bone
Answer: B) Palatine bone (horizontal plate)

35. The emissary veins pass through which small skull openings and connect extracranial veins to intracranial venous sinuses?
A) Foramen ovale and rotundum
B) Emissary foramina such as parietal foramen and mastoid foramen
C) Jugular foramen only
D) Hypoglossal canal only
Answer: B) Emissary foramina such as parietal foramen and mastoid foramen

36. The zygomatic arch is primarily formed by which two processes?
A) Zygomatic process of maxilla and temporal process of zygoma
B) Zygomatic process of the temporal bone and temporal process of the zygomatic bone
C) Zygomatic process of frontal and zygomatic process of maxilla
D) Squamous temporal and sphenoid processes
Answer: B) Zygomatic process of temporal + temporal process of zygomatic

37. The internal surface of the skull shows grooves for which vessels?
A) External carotid artery branches
B) Dural venous sinuses (e.g., superior sagittal sinus groove)
C) Facial vein
D) Maxillary artery only
Answer: B) Dural venous sinuses

38. The pterygoid processes are part of which bone?
A) Maxilla
B) Ethmoid
C) Sphenoid bone
D) Palatine bone
Answer: C) Sphenoid bone

39. The mandibular notch separates which two mandibular processes?
A) Mental and alveolar
B) Coronoid process and condylar (condyloid) process
C) Ramus and body
D) Angle and symphysis
Answer: B) Coronoid process and condylar process

40. Which bone contains the tympanic part forming the anterior wall of the external acoustic meatus?
A) Sphenoid
B) Temporal bone
C) Occipital bone
D) Parietal bone
Answer: B) Temporal bone

41. The glabella is a landmark on which bone?
A) Frontal bone (between the superciliary arches)
B) Nasal bone
C) Maxilla
D) Zygomatic bone
Answer: A) Frontal bone

42. The primary ossification centers for the occipital bone are how many in the newborn?
A) One only
B) Two only
C) Four (basilar part and two exoccipitals + squamous part)
D) Six
Answer: C) Four

43. The pterygopalatine fossa communicates with the orbit via which opening?
A) Inferior orbital fissure
B) Inferior orbital fissure
C) Superior orbital fissure
D) Optic canal
Answer: B) Inferior orbital fissure

44. Which bone forms the majority of the hard palate?
A) Palatine bone only
B) Maxilla (palatine processes of maxilla)
C) Vomer and palatine equally
D) Sphenoid
Answer: B) Maxilla (palatine processes)

45. The foramen magnum transmits all of the following EXCEPT:
A) Spinal cord
B) Vertebral arteries
C) Maxillary nerve (V2)
D) Meninges and accessory root (spinal part of CN XI)
Answer: C) Maxillary nerve (V2)

46. The suture that becomes the bregma at its junction is the meeting point of which sutures?
A) Lambdoid and sagittal
B) Coronal and sagittal sutures
C) Coronal and lambdoid
D) Squamous and coronal
Answer: B) Coronal and sagittal sutures

47. Which bone contains the hamulus (pterygoid hamulus)?
A) Maxilla
B) Palatine
C) Sphenoid (medial pterygoid plate’s hamulus)
D) Mandible
Answer: C) Sphenoid

48. The superior orbital fissure transmits which of the following?
A) Olfactory nerve (CN I)
B) Oculomotor (III), trochlear (IV), ophthalmic division of V (V1), and abducens (VI)
C) Optic nerve (CN II)
D) Facial nerve (CN VII)
Answer: B) III, IV, V1 and VI

49. The mastoid process is part of which bone?
A) Parietal bone
B) Temporal bone
C) Occipital bone
D) Sphenoid bone
Answer: B) Temporal bone

50. The septal cartilage of the nose is attached inferiorly to which bony structure?
A) Nasal bone
B) Vomer and anterior nasal spine of maxilla
C) Perpendicular plate of ethmoid only
D) Inferior nasal concha
Answer: B) Vomer and anterior nasal spine of maxilla

51. Which bone forms the majority of the lateral wall of the skull vault?
A) Frontal bone
B) Parietal bone
C) Temporal bone
D) Occipital bone
Answer: B) Parietal bone

52. The incisive foramen transmits branches of which nerve?
A) Inferior alveolar nerve
B) Nasopalatine nerve (branch of V2)
C) Greater palatine nerve
D) Lingual nerve
Answer: B) Nasopalatine nerve

53. The sphenopalatine foramen opens into which cavity?
A) Oral cavity
B) Nasal cavity (posterior superior lateral wall)
C) Orbit
D) Middle ear
Answer: B) Nasal cavity

54. The articulation between the temporal bone and mandible forms which joint?
A) Atlanto-occipital joint
B) Temporomandibular joint (TMJ)
C) Sternoclavicular joint
D) Pterygomandibular joint
Answer: B) Temporomandibular joint (TMJ)

55. The inferior orbital fissure lies between which bones?
A) Frontal and ethmoid
B) Maxilla and greater wing of sphenoid (and zygoma contribution)
C) Sphenoid and ethmoid only
D) Palatine and nasal bones
Answer: B) Maxilla and greater wing of sphenoid

56. The crista galli serves as an attachment for which structure?
A) Falx cerebri (dural fold)
B) Tentorium cerebelli
C) Falx cerebri
D) Falx cerebelli
Answer: C) Falx cerebri

57. The auditory ossicle attached to the tympanic membrane is the:
A) Incus
B) Stapes
C) Malleus
D) Hyoid
Answer: C) Malleus

58. The petrotympanic fissure transmits which structure?
A) Chorda tympani nerve and anterior tympanic artery (small neurovascular structures)
B) Chorda tympani (branch of CN VII) and anterior tympanic vessels
C) Mandibular nerve (V3)
D) Middle meningeal artery
Answer: B) Chorda tympani and anterior tympanic vessels

59. The jugular foramen transmits which of the following?
A) Internal carotid artery
B) Internal jugular vein and cranial nerves IX, X, XI
C) Facial nerve only
D) Vagus nerve only
Answer: B) Internal jugular vein and CN IX, X, XI

60. The inferior nasal concha is a separate bone and not part of the ethmoid. True or false?
A) True — it is a distinct facial bone
B) False — it is always part of the ethmoid
C) True — inferior nasal concha is an independent bone
D) False — it fuses with the maxilla
Answer: C) True — inferior nasal concha is independent

61. The petrous ridge of the temporal bone separates which two cranial fossae?
A) Anterior and middle cranial fossae
B) Middle and posterior cranial fossae
C) Anterior and posterior cranial fossae
D) Lateral and medial cranial fossae
Answer: B) Middle and posterior cranial fossae

62. The alveolar process of the maxilla supports what?
A) The zygomatic arch
B) Upper teeth (maxillary teeth)
C) The mandibular teeth
D) The nasal septum
Answer: B) Upper teeth

63. The mandibular canal contains which neurovascular bundle?
A) Facial artery and vein
B) Inferior alveolar nerve and vessels
C) Lingual nerve and submandibular vessels
D) Infraorbital nerve and vessels
Answer: B) Inferior alveolar nerve and vessels

64. The orbital plate of the frontal bone forms which part of the orbit?
A) Lateral wall only
B) Roof of the orbit (orbital plate)
C) Floor of the orbit
D) Medial wall of orbit
Answer: B) Roof of the orbit

65. The pterygoid hamulus acts as a pulley for which muscle’s tendon?
A) Medial pterygoid
B) Lateral pterygoid
C) Tensor veli palatini
D) Levator veli palatini
Answer: C) Tensor veli palatini

66. The lambdoid suture separates which bones?
A) Frontal and parietal
B) Parietal bones from occipital bone
C) Temporal and sphenoid
D) Sphenoid and zygomatic
Answer: B) Parietal bones from occipital bone

67. Which bone contains the alveolar process for lower teeth?
A) Maxilla
B) Mandible
C) Palatine bone
D) Zygomatic bone
Answer: B) Mandible

68. The incisive fossa (on the mandible) lies directly below which teeth?
A) Canines only
B) Incisors (lower anterior teeth)
C) Molars only
D) Premolars only
Answer: B) Incisors

69. Which small bones occasionally found within sutures are called Wormian bones?
A) Sesamoid bones of face
B) Intrasutural (Wormian) bones
C) Auditory ossicles
D) Ossicles of nasal septum
Answer: B) Intrasutural (Wormian) bones

70. The hamular notch is a feature near which bone?
A) Maxilla only
B) Palatine bone/sphenoid junction (near pterygoid hamulus)
C) Zygomatic bone
D) Frontal bone
Answer: B) Palatine bone/sphenoid junction

71. The stylomastoid foramen is located between which two landmarks?
A) Mastoid process and styloid process
B) Styloid process and mastoid process of the temporal bone
C) Zygomatic arch and external acoustic meatus
D) Occipital condyle and jugular notch
Answer: B) Styloid process and mastoid process

72. The cribriform plate transmits which nerves?
A) Optic nerves (CN II)
B) Trigeminal branches (V1)
C) Olfactory nerve filaments (CN I)
D) Vagus nerve branches
Answer: C) Olfactory nerve filaments (CN I)

73. The superior temporal line on the skull indicates the attachment of which muscle?
A) Masseter
B) Temporalis muscle (superior temporal line portion)
C) Sternocleidomastoid
D) Buccinator
Answer: B) Temporalis

74. The suture between the squamous part of the temporal bone and the parietal bone is the:
A) Coronal suture
B) Lambdoid suture
C) Squamous suture
D) Sagittal suture
Answer: C) Squamous suture

75. Which foramen is located just inferior to the orbit on the maxilla and transmits the infraorbital nerve?
A) Mental foramen
B) Infraorbital foramen
C) Foramen ovale
D) Foramen rotundum
Answer: B) Infraorbital foramen

76. The median palatine suture lies between which two structures?
A) Palatine and vomer
B) Palatine processes of the two maxillae (midline of hard palate)
C) Horizontal plates of palatine bone only
D) Maxillary tuberosities
Answer: B) Palatine processes of maxillae

77. The craniometric point “inion” corresponds to which external landmark?
A) Nasion
B) External occipital protuberance
C) Pterion
D) Glabella
Answer: B) External occipital protuberance (inion)

78. The groove for the sigmoid sinus is found in which bone?
A) Frontal bone
B) Temporal and occipital bones (posterolateral cranial base)
C) Sphenoid bone only
D) Maxilla
Answer: B) Temporal and occipital bones

79. The zygomaticofacial foramen transmits which branch?
A) Infraorbital nerve
B) Zygomaticofacial branch of the zygomatic nerve (V2)
C) Buccal branch of facial nerve
D) Mental nerve
Answer: B) Zygomaticofacial branch (V2)

80. Which bone contributes to the posterior wall of the maxillary sinus?
A) Frontal bone
B) Maxilla (posterior wall formed by maxilla and communicates with pterygopalatine region)
C) Palatine bone (perpendicular plate contribution)
D) Zygomatic bone only
Answer: B) Maxilla (with palatine contribution posteriorly)

81. The chondral (cartilaginous) part of the nasal septum is derived from which embryologic structure?
A) Median nasal processes ossification centers
B) Septal cartilage (derived from mesenchyme; not a bone)
C) Vomeric cartilage
D) Hyoid cartilage
Answer: B) Septal cartilage

82. The spine of the sphenoid provides attachment for which ligament?
A) Stylohyoid ligament
B) Sphenomandibular ligament (spine of sphenoid)
C) Stylomandibular ligament
D) Ligamentum flavum
Answer: B) Sphenomandibular ligament

83. The tympanic plate of the temporal bone contributes to which structure?
A) Nasal septum
B) Floor of the external acoustic meatus and anterior wall of the tympanic cavity
C) Roof of orbit
D) Medial wall of middle ear
Answer: B) Floor of EAM and anterior wall of tympanic cavity

84. The posterior nasal spine is part of which bone?
A) Maxilla only
B) Palatine bone (posterior nasal spine formed by horizontal plates of palatine bones)
C) Vomer only
D) Sphenoid only
Answer: B) Palatine bone

85. Which foramen is the exit point for the mental nerve?
A) Infraorbital foramen
B) Mental foramen
C) Mandibular foramen
D) Foramen ovale
Answer: B) Mental foramen

86. The jugular notch (notch on the occipital bone around foramen magnum) is also called:
A) Opisthion
B) Opisthion (the midpoint on the posterior margin of foramen magnum)
C) Basion
D) Inion
Answer: B) Opisthion

87. The inferior orbital fissure transmits which of the following?
A) Trochlear nerve
B) Infraorbital nerve (V2) and zygomatic nerve branches; orbital branches of pterygopalatine ganglion
C) Optic nerve and ophthalmic artery
D) Facial nerve branches
Answer: B) Infraorbital nerve (V2) and zygomatic nerve branches

88. The temporal fossa is bounded superiorly by which line?
A) Inferior temporal line
B) Superior temporal line
C) Zygomatic arch only
D) Coronal suture
Answer: B) Superior temporal line

89. The anterior cranial fossa is formed mainly by which bone(s)?
A) Temporal and occipital bones
B) Frontal bone (orbital plates), cribriform plate of ethmoid, lesser wing and body of sphenoid anteriorly
C) Parietal bone only
D) Sphenoid only
Answer: B) Frontal, ethmoid, sphenoid (lesser wing/body)

90. The glenoid (mandibular) fossa is found on which bone?
A) Zygomatic bone
B) Temporal bone (squamous part)
C) Occipital bone
D) Sphenoid bone
Answer: B) Temporal bone

91. The sutural area named “pterion” overlies which meningeal vessel, making it clinically vulnerable?
A) Anterior cerebral artery
B) Middle meningeal artery (anterior branch) — underlying pterion region
C) Superior sagittal sinus
D) Internal carotid artery
Answer: B) Middle meningeal artery

92. Which bone contains the foramen rotundum and foramen ovale?
A) Temporal bone
B) Sphenoid bone
C) Occipital bone
D) Maxilla
Answer: B) Sphenoid bone

93. The mandibular symphysis in adulthood is:
A) A permanent cartilaginous joint
B) Fused bony joint (fusion of two halves during early life)
C) Connected by fibrous tissue throughout life
D) A synovial joint
Answer: B) Fused bony joint
94. The greater petrosal nerve passes through which opening on the skull base?
A) Foramen rotundum
B) Hiatus of the greater petrosal nerve (on petrous part of temporal bone) leading to the foramen lacerum area
C) Foramen ovale
D) Jugular foramen
Answer: B) Hiatus of greater petrosal nerve (petrous temporal → foramen lacerum region)

95. The anterior fontanelle corresponds on the adult skull to which point?
A) Lambda
B) Bregma
C) Pterion
D) Asterion
Answer: B) Bregma

96. The mandibular ramus provides attachment for which muscle on its lateral surface?
A) Temporalis only
B) Masseter muscle (lateral surface of ramus and angle)
C) Medial pterygoid only
D) Buccinator only
Answer: B) Masseter muscle

97. Which bone forms the posterior part of the nasal septum articulating inferiorly with the maxilla?
A) Ethmoid
B) Vomer (articulates with maxilla and palatine inferiorly)
C) Nasal bone
D) Sphenoid only
Answer: B) Vomer

98. The sella turcica contains which important gland?
A) Pineal gland
B) Pituitary gland (hypophysis) in the hypophyseal fossa
C) Thyroid gland
D) Parotid gland
Answer: B) Pituitary gland

99. The pterygoid plates (medial and lateral) are part of which structure used for muscle attachment?
A) Zygomatic arch only
B) Sphenoid bone; provide origin/attachment for pterygoid muscles
C) Maxillary alveolar process
D) Palatine process only
Answer: B) Sphenoid bone (pterygoid plates)

100. The foramen rotundum opens into which anatomical space?
A) Middle ear cavity
B) Pterygopalatine fossa (anteriorly) / middle cranial fossa posteriorly
C) Orbit directly
D) Nasal cavity directly
Answer: B) Pterygopalatine fossa / middle cranial fossa