---
title: "Facial Bones | Anatomy and Physiology I"
description: "Facial bones are the 14 bones of the facial skeleton that support the jaws, cheeks, nose, and orbit margins in Anatomy and Physiology I."
canonical: "https://fiveable.me/anatomy-physiology/key-terms/facial-bones"
type: "key-term"
subject: "Anatomy and Physiology I"
unit: "Unit 7"
---

# Facial Bones | Anatomy and Physiology I

## Definition

Facial bones are the 14 bones that form the facial skeleton in Anatomy and Physiology I. They support the eyes, nose, mouth, and upper and lower jaws, and they shape the face.

## What It Is

Facial bones are the 14 bones of the viscerocranium, the part of the skull that forms the face. In Anatomy and Physiology I, this term usually includes the paired maxillae, zygomatic bones, nasal bones, lacrimal bones, palatine bones, inferior nasal conchae, and the single vomer and mandible.

These bones do more than give the face its shape. They build the bony framework for the oral cavity, nasal cavity, orbits, and teeth. That means they help support breathing, chewing, speech, and vision by holding soft tissues in the right position. If you think of the skull as a protective container, the facial bones are the front section that creates openings and support structures for the senses and the upper airway.

One major exception is the mandible. It is the only movable bone of the skull, which is why you can open and close your mouth, chew, and speak clearly. The rest of the facial bones are joined mostly by sutures, so they stay fixed in place and provide stability instead of motion.

These bones also connect closely with the maxilla, which forms the upper jaw and part of the hard palate, and the zygomatic bones, which form the cheek prominence and part of the lateral orbit. That arrangement matters because the facial skeleton is not just a flat front wall. It is a set of overlapping bony supports that create spaces for teeth, air passage, and eye protection.

A common point of confusion is the difference between facial bones and cranial bones. Cranial bones make up the brain case, while facial bones make up the face. In lab images and bone models, you usually identify them by location and function: cranial bones surround the brain, while facial bones build the front of the skull and anchor the structures you use to eat, breathe, and sense the world.

## Why It Matters

Facial bones matter because they are the framework you use to identify major skull landmarks in Anatomy and Physiology I. If you can name the facial bones, you can also locate the orbits, nasal cavity, upper jaw, lower jaw, and cheek area on a skull model or diagram.

This term also connects structure with function in a very direct way. The maxilla holds the upper teeth and helps form the hard palate, the mandible moves during chewing and speech, and the zygomatic bones help shape the cheeks and part of the eye socket. Those relationships show up whenever you are asked why a bone has a certain shape or how the skull supports the body’s openings.

Facial bones also set up later topics, especially joints, muscles of mastication, and trauma or fracture case studies. If a lab question shows swelling around the cheek, pain with chewing, or a broken jaw, you need to know which facial bone is involved before you can interpret the rest of the scenario.

This term is a good checkpoint for whether you can move from memorizing names to reading anatomy as a system. The facial skeleton is not random pieces, it is a map of support, protection, and movement working together.

## Connections

### Mandible

The mandible is one of the facial bones, but it stands out because it is movable. When you study facial bones, the mandible is the piece that explains chewing, speech, and jaw motion. It is also a common landmark in lab because you can identify the body, angle, and processes on the same bone.

### Maxilla

The maxillae form the upper jaw and a big part of the facial skeleton. They matter because they support the upper teeth, help create the hard palate, and contribute to the floor of the orbits and the sides of the nasal cavity. If you understand the maxilla, you can trace how the face supports both breathing and eating.

### Zygomatic bones

The zygomatic bones are the cheekbones, but they also help build the lateral wall and floor of the orbit. They are a good example of how facial bones do more than shape the outside of the face. In diagrams, they help you orient yourself by linking the cheek region to the eye socket.

### [Cranial Sutures](/anatomy-physiology/key-terms/cranial-sutures)

Most facial bones are joined to nearby skull bones by sutures, which are immovable joints. That connection helps explain why the face is stable while the mandible can still move. When you compare facial bones with cranial sutures, you see the difference between fixed protection and the one movable part of the skull.

## On the AP Exam

A quiz item may show you a skull photo or model and ask you to identify which bones are facial bones versus cranial bones. You might also need to label the mandible, maxilla, or zygomatic bones on a diagram. In short-answer or lab questions, you can be asked how a facial bone contributes to chewing, speech, breathing, or eye protection. If a case mentions a broken jaw or cheek injury, use the term to connect the symptom to the specific bone and its function.

## facial bones vs Cranial bones

Facial bones form the front of the skull, while cranial bones form the brain case. The easiest way to separate them is by function: facial bones support the eyes, nose, mouth, and jaws, while cranial bones protect the brain. The mandible is still a facial bone, even though it is the only movable one.

## Key Takeaways

- Facial bones are the 14 bones that form the face, not the brain case.
- The mandible is the only movable bone in the skull, which makes it stand out from the rest of the facial bones.
- The maxillae, zygomatic bones, and other facial bones support the teeth, eyes, nose, and oral cavity.
- Most facial bones are joined by sutures, so they stay fixed and provide a stable framework.
- In lab and on diagrams, facial bones are easiest to identify by their position in the front of the skull and by the spaces they help build.

## FAQs

### What is facial bones in Anatomy and Physiology I?

Facial bones are the 14 bones that make up the facial skeleton, or viscerocranium. They form the framework of the cheeks, jaws, nose, and parts of the eye sockets. In Anatomy and Physiology I, you study them as the bones that support the front of the skull and anchor structures for chewing, breathing, and speech.

### What bones are included in the facial bones?

The facial bones include the mandible, two maxillae, two zygomatic bones, two nasal bones, two lacrimal bones, two palatine bones, two inferior nasal conchae, and the vomer. The mandible is the only movable one. The others are joined to nearby bones by sutures and stay fixed in place.

### How are facial bones different from cranial bones?

Facial bones build the face, while cranial bones form the brain case. Facial bones support the mouth, nose, and eyes, and cranial bones protect the brain. A common mistake is grouping the mandible with the jaw area but forgetting that it still counts as a facial bone.

### Why is the mandible part of the facial bones?

The mandible is part of the facial bones because it forms the lower jaw and sits in the facial skeleton. Even though it moves at the temporomandibular joint, it still belongs to the bones of the face. That movement is what lets you chew, speak, and open your mouth.

## Related Study Guides

- [7.2 The Skull ](/anatomy-physiology/unit-7/2-skull/study-guide/UlZ8y25gzC1E8srV)

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