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The zygomatic bone is an even bone that belongs to the facial skeleton. You can find it in the place where the cheek is convex. The zygomatic bone affects what the human face looks like, but it also serves as the attachment site for many important muscles. Find out about the structure of the zygomatic bone and how it breaks.
The zygomatic bone is one of the facial bones. It is characterized by an irregular shape and the fact that in different people it may have a slightly different position - for this reason some people have less and others more defined cheeks. The fact that this bone influences the appearance of the face comes from its common name - the zygomatic bone is sometimes calledcheekbone .
Zygomatic bone: structure
Within the zygomatic bone, its body, three surfaces and three appendages are distinguished. There are some inaccuracies in the number of edges of this bone. Some authors distinguish them three:
- infraorbital,
- top
- and bottom.
Other experts mention additional posterior-inferior and posteromedial edges.
The shaft of the zygomatic bone itself is irregular in shape and has three faces. The side (cheek) surface is smooth and we can feel it through the skin. It has a zygofacial opening through which a nerve with the same name passes.
The posterior (temporal) surface is concave and within it there is the zygomatic-temporal foramen through which the zygomatic-temporal nerve passes. The last surface of the zygomatic bone is the orbital surface, which together with other bones forms the eye socket. The zygomatic-orbital opening is located within the orbital surface.
As mentioned above, the zygomatic bone has three appendages. The frontal process is in its upper part and joins the zygomatic process of the frontal bone and the greater wing of the sphenoid bone.
The temporal appendage, extending from the inferolateral part of the zygomatic bone, forms the zygomatic arch after joining with the zygomatic process. The third appendix, which is the maxillary process, forms the orbital wall.
Zygomatic bone: functions
The appearance of a human face depends on the structure and location of the zygomatic bone - it is certainly important for many people, absolutelyhowever, it is not the most important function of this bone.
It is the site of attachment of many important muscles - the lateral surface is the attachment of the greater and less zygomatic muscles to the zygomatic arch, formed e.g. through the temporal process, and the masseter muscle is attached.
Important nerve fibers (the names of which are listed above) and their corresponding blood vessels also pass through the zygomatic bone.
Zygomatic bone: fractures
As a result of various facial injuries, the zygomatic bone may fracture. Generally, fractures of this structure are the second most frequent in the field of fractures of the craniofacial bones. The problem may appear primarily in the victims of car accidents and in people who have been punched in the face.
Accompany the fracture of the zygomatic bone - apart from the obvious pain - facial deformity (usually asymmetry appears), as well as occlusion disorders or excessive mandible mobility.
In people who develop this type of pathology, surgical procedures are sometimes used to restore the correct symmetry of the patient's face. Unfortunately, it should be mentioned here that the convalescence period after a zygomatic fracture is usually relatively long - the bone healing process may take up to several months.
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