Final answer:
The lateral and medial pterygoid plates of the sphenoid bone serve as attachment sites for chewing muscles and form the posterior lateral walls of the nasal cavity. The greater wings of the sphenoid bone help shape the anterior wall of the middle cranial fossa and the lateral skull.
Step-by-step explanation:
The sphenoid bone plays a crucial role in the anatomy of the skull, attaching to several important structures. On the inferior aspect of the skull, the sphenoid bone includes the medial pterygoid plate and the lateral pterygoid plate. The medial pterygoid plates are components that help form the posterior, lateral walls of the nasal cavity. In comparison, the larger lateral pterygoid plates act as attachment sites for the muscles involved in mastication, known as chewing muscles, which populate the infratemporal space and influence the movement of the mandible.
Apart from these plates, the sphenoid bone also consists of greater wings, which project laterally and outward from the central skull structure, forming parts of the anterior wall of the middle cranial fossa and contributing to the shape of the lateral skull.