Zygomatic arch

Zygomatic arch
Side view of the skull.
Articulation of the mandible. Lateral aspect.
Details
Identifiers
Latin	arcus zygomaticus
Dorlands /Elsevier	a_58/12150836
TA	A02.1.00.023
FMA	53120
Anatomical terminology [edit on Wikidata]

The zygomatic arch or cheek bone is formed by the zygomatic process of temporal bone (a bone extending forward from the side of the skull, over the opening of the ear) and the temporal process of the zygomatic bone (the side of the cheekbone), the two being united by an oblique suture (zygomaticotemporal suture);^[1] the tendon of the Temporalis passes medial to the arch to gain insertion into the coronoid process of the mandible. The jugal point is the point at the anterior end of the upper border of the zygomatic arch where the masseteric and maxillary edges meet at an angle. The jugal point is the anterior end of upper border of the zygomatic arch where it meets the process of the zygomatic bone.

Structure

The zygomatic process of the temporal arises by two roots:

• an anterior, directed inward in front of the mandibular fossa, where it expands to form the articular tubercle.
• a posterior, which runs backward above the external acoustic meatus and is continuous with the supramastoid crest.

The upper border of the arch gives attachment to the temporal fascia;^[2] the lower border and medial surface give origin to the Masseter.

Society and culture

High cheekbones are pronounced zygomatic arches, causing the upper part of the cheeks to jut out and form a line cut into the sides of the face. High cheekbones, forming a symmetrical face shape, are very common in fashion models and are considered a beauty trait in both males and females.^[3]

Etymology

The term zygomatic derives from the Greek ζύγωμα zygōma meaning "bolt, bar", derived from ζυγο- "yoke, join". The Greek word was already used with this anatomical sense by Galen (2.437, 746) in the 2nd century AD. The zygomatic arch is occasionally referred to as the zygoma, but this term usually refers to the zygomatic bone or occasionally the zygomatic process.

Other animals

The zygomatic arch is significant in evolutionary biology, as it is part of the structures derived from the ancestral single temporal fenestra of the synapsid ancestor of mammals.

Additional images

• 

  Left temporal bone. Outer surface.

• 

  Left zygomatic bone. Malar surface.

• 

  Base of skull. Inferior surface.

• 

  The Temporalis; the zygomatic arch and Masseter have been removed.

• 

  Dissection, showing salivary glands of right side.

• 

  Fracture of the zygomatic arch as seen on plain Xray

• 

  Zygomatic arch.Base of skull.

See also

• Zygomasseteric system
• Zygomaticotemporal suture
• Zygomatic complex fracture

References

This article incorporates text in the public domain from the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

1. Herring, Susan W.; Mucci, Robert J. (1991). "In vivo strain in cranial sutures: The zygomatic arch". Journal of Morphology 207 (3): 225–239. doi:10.1002/jmor.1052070302. ISSN 0362-2525.
2. Abul-Hassan HS, von Drasek Ascher G, Acland RD (January 1986). "Surgical anatomy and blood supply of the fascial layers of the temporal region". Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery 77 (1): 17–28. doi:10.1097/00006534-198601000-00004. PMID 3941846.
3. Sex and Society. Marshall Cavendish. September 2009. p. 91. ISBN 978-0-7614-7906-2. Retrieved 2 November 2012.

External links

• lesson1 at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) (latskullitems)
• Anatomy diagram: 34257.000-1 at Roche Lexicon - illustrated navigator, Elsevier