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Zygomatic bone

The zygomatic bone, also known as the cheekbone or malar bone, is a paired, quadrilateral facial bone forming the prominence of the cheeks and part of the lateral wall and floor of the orbit. Each zygomatic bone articulates with the maxilla, temporal, frontal, and sphenoid bones, contributing to facial contour, orbital structure, and masticatory muscle attachment. The bone consists of a body and four processes—frontal, temporal, orbital, and maxillary—that define its connections with neighboring bones. The lateral surface is convex, forming the visible cheek prominence, while the medial orbital surface is concave, supporting the orbital contents. The zygomatic bone also provides attachment for the masseter muscle, fascia, and ligaments that stabilize the midface. Its shape, size, and position are critical for facial symmetry, ocular support, and midfacial biomechanics.

Synonyms

  • Malar bone

  • Cheekbone

  • Os zygomaticum

Function

  • Forms the prominence of the cheeks

  • Contributes to the lateral wall and floor of the orbit

  • Provides attachment for facial muscles, including the masseter and zygomatic muscles

  • Supports midfacial structure and contour

  • Serves as a landmark for craniofacial surgery, trauma assessment, and orthodontics

MRI Appearance

T1-weighted images:

  • Zygomatic bone appears as a low-signal intensity (hypointense) structure relative to surrounding soft tissue

  • Surrounded by hyperintense subcutaneous fat, which creates contrast along the lateral facial contour

  • Bone marrow within the zygomatic body may appear slightly higher in signal depending on marrow composition (yellow vs. red marrow)

  • Fractures, tumors, or marrow lesions appear as focal signal disruption or abnormal intensity

T2-weighted images:

  • The cortical zygomatic bone remains hypointense, while trabecular bone may appear slightly hyperintense if marrow contains more water content

  • Adjacent fat and soft tissue appear bright, highlighting soft tissue edema, hematoma, or inflammatory changes

STIR (Short Tau Inversion Recovery):

  • Fat suppression removes high signal from surrounding subcutaneous fat

  • Cortical bone remains hypointense, while bone marrow edema, fractures, or soft tissue pathology appear bright

  • Especially useful in trauma or inflammatory assessment

CT Appearance:

  • The zygomatic bone appears as a hyperdense, well-corticated bony structure, forming the lateral orbital rim and cheek prominence

  • Surrounding air in the maxillary sinus and nasal cavity appears hypodense (black), providing natural contrast

  • Trabecular architecture of the zygomatic body is visible on thin-slice CT

  • Fractures, dislocations, congenital anomalies, or neoplastic involvement are easily detected

MRI images

Zygomatic bone mri axial image -img-00000-00000

CT VRT 3D image

Zygomatic bone 3d

X ray image

X ray Zygomatic bone anatomy image -img-00000-00000