Sphenoid bone

Looks like

A butterfly-shaped bone set crosswise in the middle of the skull base, behind the eyes.

What it does

Links the skull bones, cradles the pituitary gland and carries the openings for the optic and other cranial nerves.

Keeping it well

Rarely injured on its own; tumours of the pituitary seat press on the optic nerves and cause gradual loss of side vision.

Its parts

• Sella turcica

Related conditions

• Achondroplasia
• Acromegaly
• Brain abscess
• Fractures
• Fragility fracture
• Frailty & falls in older age
• Hyperparathyroidism
• Osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bone disease)
• Osteomalacia & rickets
• Osteomyelitis (bone infection)
• Osteoporosis
• Paget's disease of bone
• Sarcoma
• Traumatic brain injury (moderate to severe)
• Vitamin B1, C and other deficiencies
• Vitamin D deficiency