The sphenoid bone (from Greek sphenoeides, “wedgelike”) is a bone situated at the base of the skull in front of the temporals and basilar part of the occipital bone.

The sphenoid bone somewhat resembles a butterfly or bat with its wings extended.

It is divided into the following parts:

• a median portion, known as the body of sphenoid bone
• two greater wings and two lesser wings
• Pterygoid processes of the sphenoides which project from it posteriorly (below)

Two sphenoidal conchae are situated at the anterior and posterior part of the body.

Various other named features of the sphenoid bone exist:

• pterygoid notch
• pterygoid fossa
• scaphoid fossa
• vaginal process
• pterygoid hamulus
• pterygoid canal
• pterygospinous process

• 
  Facial bones.
• 
  Lateral wall of nasal cavity, showing ethmoid bone in position.
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  Sphenoid bone visible center right.
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  Base of skull. Inferior surface.
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  Lateral view of the skull.
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  Horizontal section of nasal and orbital cavities.
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  Floor of the skull.
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  Roof, floor, and lateral wall of left nasal cavity.

• Bone terminology
• Ossification of the sphenoid
• Pterygospinal ligament
• Terms for anatomical location

• Template:SUNYAnatomyFigs – “Lateral view of skull.”

Template:Cranium Template:Gray’s

ca:Esfenoide da:Kileben de:Keilbein it:Osso sfenoide la:Os sphenoidale lt:Pleištakaulis nl:Wiggenbeen no:Kilebeinet sk:Klinová kosť sl:Zagozdnica fi:Kitaluu uk:Клиноподібна кістка

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