Human Skull Model

Quick Answer: The Human Skull Model is a replica of the adult human skull, the bony case of the head, used to study its cavities and openings. Students use a human skull model to learn how the orbits, nasal cavity, cranial fossae, palate and jaw joint are built.

The Spaces Inside the Skull

Much of the skull’s anatomy is about the spaces it encloses. Each orbit, the socket holding the eye, is a cone built from seven bones: frontal, zygomatic, maxilla, sphenoid, ethmoid, lacrimal and palatine. Its thin medial wall and floor explain why a blow to the eye can fracture into the sinuses beside it while the rim stays intact. Between the orbits lies the nasal cavity, divided by the septum, with the scroll-like conchae on its side walls.

Around the nasal cavity are the paranasal sinuses, air spaces within the frontal, maxillary, ethmoid and sphenoid bones that drain into the nose. Inside the cranium the floor steps down in three levels, the anterior, middle and posterior cranial fossae, which hold the frontal lobes, the temporal lobes and the cerebellum with the brainstem. Below, the hard palate, formed by the maxillae and palatine bones, separates the mouth from the nose, and in front of each ear the mandible meets the temporal bone at the temporomandibular joint.

How much of this can be seen depends on how the skull is made. Sinuses show only on sectioned skulls, and the cranial fossae are seen fully only when the skull cap lifts off; the listing states neither feature. A coloured life-size skull in the same range helps students trace individual bones.

Using the Skull Model

• Dental anatomy lessons on the palate, tooth sockets and the jaw joint
• ENT and eye topics in nursing and paramedical courses, such as sinus drainage and orbital fractures
• Secondary biology lessons on how the skull protects the brain and sense organs
• Neuroanatomy introductions linking the cranial fossae to the parts of the brain they hold

Handling the Skull

• Support the human skull model with both hands under the cranium when passing it between students.
• Open and close the jaw slowly if it is hinged or sprung, so the teeth do not chip.
• Point to thin areas such as the orbital walls and nasal bones with a probe rather than pressing on them.
• Store the skull on a soft ring or in its box, away from bench edges.

Specifications

Why Choose LabEquip

Dental schools, nursing institutes and school biology departments buy skull models for regular use in anatomy practicals. LabEquip lists this skull in Biology Lab Products; if you need sectioned or removable-cap features, say so through the contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which bones form the orbit?

Seven: the frontal, zygomatic, maxilla, sphenoid, ethmoid, lacrimal and palatine bones. The medial wall and floor are thin, which is why they can break in a blow-out fracture.

What are the paranasal sinuses?

They are air-filled spaces inside the frontal, maxillary, ethmoid and sphenoid bones that open into the nasal cavity. They lighten the skull and warm and moisten inhaled air, and on a model they can be seen only if the skull is sectioned.

Where is the jaw joint?

The temporomandibular joint lies just in front of each ear, where the head of the mandible sits in a hollow of the temporal bone. It allows the jaw to open, close, move forward and move side to side.

What is the hard palate made of?

The front part is formed by the palatine processes of the two maxillae and the back part by the horizontal plates of the palatine bones. Together they form the roof of the mouth and the floor of the nasal cavity.

How many teeth does an adult skull show?

A complete adult set has 32 teeth, including four third molars or wisdom teeth. Some models omit the wisdom teeth, so count them against a dental chart when the skull arrives.

Does the skull cap come off?

Many teaching skulls have a removable calvaria so the cranial fossae can be studied from inside, but some are cast in one piece. The listing does not say which applies, so confirm this when you enquire.

Last Updated: September 2026