Craniale botten: laterale weergave

The skull's lateral view displays the temporal, ethmoid, and sphenoid bones together with other partially visible cranial bones.

The paired temporal bones have a squamous part with a zygomatic process. Together with the zygomatic bone, they form the zygomatic arch. The temporal bone's tympanic and petrous regions surround different parts of the ear.

Projecting inferiorly, its styloid process helps attach ligaments and muscles. Extending downwards, the mastoid process anchors neck muscles.

The sphenoid bone articulates with other cranial bones. Its superior surface has saddle-shaped sella turcica and lesser wings.

The greater wings have foramen rotundum, ovale, and spinosum. The anterior side displays the superior orbital fissures that allow the passage of cranial nerves and blood vessels. It also shows pterygoid processes projecting inferiorly.

The ethmoid bone lies between the sphenoid and nasal bones. It shows a horizontal cribriform plate with perforations for olfactory nerve filaments. The triangular crista galli secures the brain in the cranial cavity, while the perpendicular plate forms the superior nasal septum.