Title: sphenoid bone
Long Title: IUPAC Gold Book - sphenoid bone
DOI: 10.1351/goldbook.11246
Status: current

Definition
Irregular wing-shaped bone at the anterior base of the skull, forming part of the orbit, serving as an attachment site for muscles of mastication, and containing foramina for nerves and vessels of the head and neck.

Note
The complex structure, function, and development of the sphenoid bone have been linked with developmental disorders such as sphenoid dysplasia and cystic degeneration of the sphenoid.

Related Terms
- cystic: https://goldbook.iupac.org//terms/view/10582
- dysplasia: https://goldbook.iupac.org//terms/view/10626
- foramina: https://goldbook.iupac.org//terms/view/10735
- orbit: https://goldbook.iupac.org//terms/view/11046

Source
- PAC, 2016, 88, 713. 'Glossary of terms used in developmental and reproductive toxicology (IUPAC Recommendations 2016)' on page 807 (https://doi.org/10.1515/pac-2015-1202)

Other Outputs
- html: https://goldbook.iupac.org/terms/view/11246/html
- json: https://goldbook.iupac.org/terms/view/11246/json
- xml: https://goldbook.iupac.org/terms/view/11246/xml

Citation: Citation: 'sphenoid bone' in IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 5th ed. International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; 2025. Online version 5.0.0, 2025. 10.1351/goldbook.11246
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Disclaimer: The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) is continuously reviewing and, where needed, updating terms in the Compendium of Chemical Terminology (the IUPAC Gold Book). Users of these terms are encouraged to include the version of a term with its use and to check regularly for updates to term definitions that you are using.
Accessed: 2026-08-03T04:19:12+00:00