5.2 Bones of the Head, Face & Neck

Why Bone Landmarks Matter to a Cosmetologist

Osteology is the study of the anatomy, structure, and function of the bones. You will never set a bone in the salon, but every haircut, facial, and massage is mapped onto the skull. Cutting guides are described by where they sit relative to the parietal ridge and occipital bone; facial massage movements are designed around the jaw and cheekbones; chemical services require care around the temporal and frontal hairlines. The exam tests bone names, counts, and locations with simple recall questions — the professional payoff is precise consultation language and safe, well-anchored services.

The skull is the skeleton of the head. It is divided into two parts: the cranium, an oval, bony case made of eight bones that protects the brain, and the facial skeleton (the skeleton of the face), made of fourteen bones. Remember the split: 8 cranial, 14 facial, 22 total.

The Eight Bones of the Cranium

• Occipital bone (1) — the hindmost bone of the skull, located below the parietal bones. It forms the back and base of the skull and contains the large opening (foramen magnum) through which the spinal cord passes. In the salon, the occipital bone marks the nape zone used in clipper cutting and neckline design.
• Parietal bones (2) — form the sides and crown (top) of the head. The parietal ridge, the widest area of the head where the skull curves, is a fundamental haircutting reference: everything above it behaves differently from everything below it when hair falls.
• Frontal bone (1) — forms the forehead. It anchors the front hairline, which matters for bangs, face-framing, and chemical service placement.
• Temporal bones (2) — form the sides of the head in the ear region, below the parietal bones (the temples). The temporal region is a common exam location answer and a sensitive area during scalp massage.
• Ethmoid bone (1) — a light, spongy bone located between the eye sockets; it forms part of the nasal cavities.
• Sphenoid bone (1) — joins all of the bones of the cranium together. It is a bat-shaped bone located at the base of the cranium and sides of the skull.

The Fourteen Bones of the Face

• Mandible (1) — the lower jawbone. It is the largest and strongest bone of the face and the only movable bone of the face. This is one of the most frequently tested facts in all of cosmetology anatomy.
• Maxillae (2) — the bones of the upper jaw. The two maxillae join to form the whole upper jaw.
• Zygomatic bones (2) — also called the malar bones or cheekbones; they form the prominence of the cheeks. Contouring, blush placement, and many facial massage strokes follow the zygomatic bones.
• Nasal bones (2) — form the bridge of the nose.
• Lacrimal bones (2) — small, fragile bones located at the front part of the inner wall of the eye sockets; they are the smallest bones of the face.
• Vomer (1) — a single, flat bone that forms part of the dividing wall of the nose (the nasal septum).
• Turbinates (2) — thin layers of spongy bone on either of the outer walls of the nasal depression (also called the inferior nasal conchae).
• Palatine bones (2) — form the floor and outer wall of the nose, the roof of the mouth (hard palate), and the floor of the orbits.

Count check: mandible 1 + vomer 1 + maxillae 2 + zygomatic 2 + nasal 2 + lacrimal 2 + turbinates 2 + palatine 2 = 14.

Bones of the Neck

The cervical vertebrae are the seven bones of the top part of the vertebral column, located in the neck region. The first cervical vertebra is called the atlas (C1) — it holds up the head and permits the nodding motion. The second cervical vertebra is called the axis (C2) — it forms the pivot that allows the head to rotate side to side. The hyoid bone is a U-shaped bone at the base of the tongue that supports the tongue and its muscles; it is unusual because it is not attached to any other bone.

Reference Table for the Exam

Exam tip: Location questions dominate this topic. Drill the pairs: occipital = back and base, parietal = sides and crown, frontal = forehead, temporal = temples/ear region, mandible = lower jaw, maxillae = upper jaw, zygomatic = cheeks.