Menu
Home
People
Places
Arts
History
Plants & Animals
Science
Life & Culture
Technology
Reference.org
Sphenoid bone
open-in-new
<p>The sphenoid bone is an unpaired <a href="/facts/Bone/kwJaR6IQ">bone</a> of the <a href="/facts/Neurocranium/dzqkVdLQ">neurocranium</a>. It is situated in the middle of the <a href="/facts/Skull/A9Wp63Np">skull</a> towards the front, in front of the <a href="/facts/Basilar_part_of_occipital_bone/aCxFFFC8">basilar part of the occipital bone</a>. The sphenoid bone is one of the seven bones that articulate to form the <a href="/facts/Orbit_(anatomy)/lJTMFcqy">orbit</a>. Its shape somewhat resembles that of a <a href="/facts/Butterfly/qlSgwlRx">butterfly</a>, <a href="/facts/Bat/CJudzNt1">bat</a> or <a href="/facts/Wasp/pbJjDyjr">wasp</a> with its wings extended. The name presumably originates from this shape, since <i>sphekodes</i> (σφηκώδης) means 'wasp-like' in <a href="/facts/Ancient_Greek/LIK7NlUh">Ancient Greek</a>. </p>