Anatomy

Sphenoid Bone

An irregular unpaired bone situated at the SKULL BASE and wedged between the frontal, temporal, and occipital bones (FRONTAL BONE; TEMPORAL BONE; OCCIPITAL BONE). Sphenoid bone consists of a median body and three pairs of processes resembling a bat with spread wings. The body is hollowed out in its inferior to form two large cavities (SPHENOID SINUS).

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

An irregular unpaired bone situated at the SKULL BASE and wedged between the frontal, temporal, and occipital bones (FRONTAL BONE; TEMPORAL BONE; OCCIPITAL BONE). Sphenoid bone consists of a median body and three pairs of processes resembling a bat with spread wings. The body is hollowed out in its inferior to form two large cavities (SPHENOID SINUS).

MeSH Record

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MeSH Record

Synonyms

5 entry terms
  • Bone, Sphenoid
  • Sphenoid Bones
  • Greater Sphenoid Wing
  • Greater Sphenoid Wings
  • Sphenoid Wing, Greater

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

24 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings abnormalities, anatomy & histology, blood supply, chemistry, cytology, diagnostic imaging, drug effects, embryology, enzymology, growth & development, immunology, injuries, innervation, metabolism, microbiology, parasitology, pathology, physiology, physiopathology, radiation effects, surgery, transplantation, ultrastructure, virology.

MeSH Record

Indexing Annotation

fractures: coordinate SPHENOID BONE /inj (IM) + SKULL FRACTURES (IM); neoplasms: coordinate IM with SKULL NEOPLASMS (IM)

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MeSH Record

NLM Classification

WE 705

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Sphenoid Bone. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D013100. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D013100
  2. Sphenoid Bone. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sphenoid_bone
  3. Sphenoid Bone. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16321