The Sphenoid: The Butterfly Bone
If you have ever had a craniosacral session with me, you have likely heard me talk about the sphenoid bone. I tend to check this bone in nearly every session because it’s so important. Truth be told, though, I had never heard of this bone before learning craniosacral work. Now I recognize how important it is to the function and flow of the head, especially, but really the whole body.
So in case you have never heard of the sphenoid, or in case you are interested in learning something about your body, let me go into a little more detail about why this funny-shaped bone is so significant (and why you will always hear me getting very excited about a well-balanced sphenoid).
Behind your eyes, deep inside your skull lives a unique bone called the Sphenoid. Although its shape resembles a butterfly, the movement of the sphenoid is much slower than the beat of a butterfly’s wings. It moves with the craniosacral rhythm as a slow, steady breath within the body.
The Ultimate Structural Keystone
Structurally, the sphenoid bone touches almost every other cranial bone—including the frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital, and ethmoid bones —as well as several facial bones.
Because it articulates with so many important structures of the skull, the sphenoid acts as a central hub for micro-movements, pressure distribution, and structural alignment. A small shift or tension pattern in the sphenoid can reverberate throughout the entire skull, affecting neighboring joints and tissues.
When you come into my office with headaches, tmj problems, restlessness, depression, or anxiety, I suspect sphenoid imbalance. It can be very hard to get a system with a stuck sphenoid to settle.
We’re going to dive just a little deeper into anatomy to really get a sense of this part of the body. Are you still with me?
A Busy Highway for Cranial Nerves
Beyond its structural job, the sphenoid bone acts like a complex electrical junction box. It is full of tiny canals, fissures, and openings (called foramina) that allow crucial nerves and blood vessels to pass between the brain and the rest of the body.
Several cranial nerves depend heavily on the alignment and freedom of the sphenoid:
Optic Nerve (CN II): Passes directly through the sphenoid's optic canal to bring visual information from your eyes to your brain.
Oculomotor, Trochlear, and Abducens Nerves (CN III, IV, VI): These nerves control eye movement and travel through the superior orbital fissure—a tight gap formed by the sphenoid.
Trigeminal Nerve (CN V): The main nerve responsible for sensation in your face and jaw sends major branches through openings in the sphenoid (the foramen rotundum and foramen ovale).
If tension or misalignment builds up around the sphenoid bone, it can compress or irritate these delicate nerves.
When you show up in my office with issues such as visual strain, facial pain, or sensitivity to light, I suspect a sphenoid imbalance.
The Hidden Link to Headaches
Because the sphenoid forms the back wall of the eye sockets and houses the sphenoid sinus, it is a prime culprit for deep-seated cranial discomfort. When the muscles around the jaw and neck pull on the bones of the skull, the sphenoid can become restricted. This restriction disrupts normal fluid dynamics and puts pressure on local nerve pathways, manifesting as:
Tension Headaches: Tightness spreading across the temples and behind the eyes.
Migraines: Vascular and neurological changes triggered by pressure near the central cranial base.
Sinus Headaches: Inflammation or poor drainage within the sphenoid sinuses located inside the body of the bone itself.
Obviously, anyone presenting with headaches will get a sphenoid release and rebalance.
How the Sphenoid Connects to TMJ Discomfort
It might seem surprising that a bone deep inside your skull affects your jaw, but the connection between the sphenoid and Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) issues is profound.
The main muscles you use to chew—specifically the lateral and medial pterygoid muscles—attach directly to tiny wing-like projections extending from the bottom of the sphenoid bone.
When you clench your teeth, grind at night, or experience jaw alignment issues, those powerful chewing muscles pull directly on the sphenoid. Conversely, if the sphenoid is slightly misaligned from a past injury, it can change how your jaw sits, leading to clicking, popping, pain, or difficulty chewing. Restoring balance to the sphenoid is often a missing piece in resolving chronic TMJ pain.
With any TMJ issue, I would not only address the temporomandibular joint but also - you guessed it - the sphenoid.
The Impact of Whiplash
When a car accident, sports collision, or sudden fall causes whiplash, the head violently snaps back and forth. While most people focus on the strain to the neck muscles, the force of that sudden movement travels directly into the base of the skull.
During a whiplash event, the joint between the sphenoid and the occipital bone at the back of the head (the sphenobasilar junction) can absorb a massive amount of kinetic force. People suffering from post-whiplash syndrome often report a combination of neck stiffness, brain fog, dizziness, TMJ flare-ups, and persistent headaches.
Addressing the biomechanics of the sphenoid bone through gentle manual therapies, such as craniosacral therapy or specialized osteopathic care, can often help unwind that trapped physical shock.
How does craniosacral therapy work the sphenoid?
A craniosacral therapist can relieve restrictions in the sphenoid bone by contacting the greater wings of the sphenoid through the temples. The sphenoid, like all parts of the body, moves to the craniosacral rhythm. When contacting the greater wings, we can assess whether or not the rhythm is palpable, symetrical, or presenting with a stable rate and amplitude. We can also assess the movement of the sphenoid in all directions. With gentle force and clear intention, I will get your sphenoid rebalanced and mobile.
A liberated sphenoid is usually experienced as a deep relief.
