The zygomatic bone, also known as the zygoma, cheekbone, or malar bone, is an irregular-shaped paired facial bone situated on the anterior lateral part of the face under the lateral aspect of the orbit.

It takes part in forming the lateral aspect and the floor of the orbit, and both the temporal and infratemporal fossae, as well as participates in the formation of the zygomatic arch. Therefore it forms the prominence of the cheek and gives a contour to the face.

The zygomatic bone has three processes, three surfaces, three openings and five borders.

The zygomatic bone articulates with the four bones listed below:

Processes of zygomatic bone

Each zygomatic bone is diamond-shaped and composed of three processes with similarly named associated bony articulations: frontal, temporal and maxillary.

Each process of the zygomatic bone forms important structures of the skull:

Frontal process - extends upward, connects with the zygomatic process of the frontal bone, and forms the anterior lateral orbital wall;
Temporal process - extends in the posterior and slightly superior direction, participates in forming the zygomatic arch along with the zygomatic process of the temporal bone;
Maxillary process - directed anteriorly and forms a part of the infraorbital margin of the bony orbit and a small portion of the anterior part of the lateral orbital wall; posterior to this process is the orbital surface of the zygomatic bone.

Surfaces of zygomatic bone

As mentioned above, the zygomatic bone has three surfaces:

The orbital surface faces the bony orbit, and it participates in forming the anterolateral aspect of the floor of the bony orbit and a small portion of the lateral wall. The surface is smooth and concave, and it contains zygomatico-orbital foramen. The foramen is located in the middle of the surface, close to the infraorbital margin.

The lateral surface is also called the facial surface because it is the most external surface. Similar to the orbital surface, this one is also smooth, but opposite to it, it is convex. This surface contains zygomaticofacial foramen, which is located in the middle of the upper part of the surface right below the frontal process of the zygomatic bone. It transmits the zygomaticofacial nerve (branch of the zygomatic nerve from the maxillary nerve (CN V2)), artery and vein. This surface also serves as an attachment site for the zygomaticus major and minor muscles.

The temporal surface faces the temporal bone, and it is also the most posterior surface directed in the posteromedial direction. Near the frontal process, it contains the third opening called the zygomaticotemporal foramen. It transmits the zygomaticotemporal nerve (branch of the zygomatic nerve from the maxillary nerve (CN V2)), which goes from the orbit to the temporal fossa.

Between the zygomatico-orbital, zygomaticofacial and zygomaticotemporal foramina through the zygomatic bone run a small canal connecting all foramina and, therefore, connecting the orbit with the external surface of the face and the temporal fossa.

The canal starts at the zygomatico-orbital foramen, goes through the zygomatic bone, and inside the bone, it splits into two smaller canals, called the zygomaticotemporal and zygomaticofacial canals. Both canals end with the corresponding openings mentioned above located on the lateral and temporal surfaces.

Borders

The zygomatic bone has five borders:

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Zygomatic bone