A cheekbone is called the zygomatic bone. It's also sometimes referred to as the malar bone.
The zygomatic bone is a paired bone that forms the prominent part of the cheek and contributes to the outer wall and floor of the eye socket (orbit). It articulates with several other bones of the skull, including the maxilla, temporal bone, sphenoid bone, and frontal bone.
Here's a breakdown:
- Zygomatic Bone: This is the anatomical and most precise term.
- Malar Bone: This is another accepted anatomical term.
- Cheekbone: This is the common, everyday term.
In summary, while "cheekbone" is a perfectly acceptable and understandable term, the more formal anatomical terms are zygomatic bone and malar bone.
