Gul Moonis, MD, serves as a radiologist at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts, where she held a position on the Radiology Resident Education and Radiology Resident Selection Committees. Dr. Gul Moonis holds a particular interest in temporal bone imaging. One of the most important calvarial and skull-base bones in the body, the temporal bone consists of five parts.
1. Squamous. The attachment site of the temporalis muscle, the squamous is a very thin bone that appears almost transparent. It also boasts a scaly appearance. The temporalis muscle it attaches to controls the opening and closing of the jaw.
2. Mastoid. The mastoid part of the temporal bone serves as its posterior component. Its rough, outer surface attaches to the auricularis posterior muscles of the outer ear and the occipitalis muscles, which control various parts of the face. Additionally, it provides attachments for several other muscles, such as the digastric and splenius capitis muscles.
3. Petrous. Also known as the petrosal ridge, the petrous is the hardest part of the temporal bone and features a pyramid shape with three surface areas: the anterior, posterior, and inferior. It attaches directly to the inner pieces of the squamous and mastoid portions and protects the inner ear from injury.
4. Tympanic. Most mammals are born with the tympanic as a separate portion of the temporal bone that fuses together with the adjacent bones over time. A canal connects the tympanic portion to the bones of the middle ear and eardrum.
5. Styloid process. The styloid process serves as the attachment point for ligaments and muscles that play a critical role in the swallowing process. Several muscles attaching to the tongue and larynx are also located there.
1. Squamous. The attachment site of the temporalis muscle, the squamous is a very thin bone that appears almost transparent. It also boasts a scaly appearance. The temporalis muscle it attaches to controls the opening and closing of the jaw.
2. Mastoid. The mastoid part of the temporal bone serves as its posterior component. Its rough, outer surface attaches to the auricularis posterior muscles of the outer ear and the occipitalis muscles, which control various parts of the face. Additionally, it provides attachments for several other muscles, such as the digastric and splenius capitis muscles.
3. Petrous. Also known as the petrosal ridge, the petrous is the hardest part of the temporal bone and features a pyramid shape with three surface areas: the anterior, posterior, and inferior. It attaches directly to the inner pieces of the squamous and mastoid portions and protects the inner ear from injury.
4. Tympanic. Most mammals are born with the tympanic as a separate portion of the temporal bone that fuses together with the adjacent bones over time. A canal connects the tympanic portion to the bones of the middle ear and eardrum.
5. Styloid process. The styloid process serves as the attachment point for ligaments and muscles that play a critical role in the swallowing process. Several muscles attaching to the tongue and larynx are also located there.