The sphenoid is an unpaired, butterfly-shaped bone that forms the main part of the middle surface of the base of the skull. It is constituted by a central body, two lateral greater wings, two lateral lesser wings, and two inferior pterygoid processes. The lesser wing of the sphenoid is its only segment not seen from the inferior view of the skull.
- The body of the sphenoid has a cube shape and contains a septum and two large sinuses.
- The structures that articulate with the body of the sphenoid are:
- Anteriorly: the vomer, ethmoid, and palatines bones.
- Posterolaterally: temporal bones.
- Posteriorly: occipital bones.
- The greater wings of the sphenoid expand and project laterally on each side of the body.
- At the lateral surface of the greater wing is situated the infratemporal crest.
- At the base of the greater wing is located the foramen ovale and the foramen spinosum (which allows the passage to the mandibular nerve and meningeal artery), as well as one or more