Cranial bones: Your skull provides structure

Your skull provides structure to your head and face while also protecting your brain. The bones in your skull can be divided into the cranial bones , which form your cranium , and facial bones ... In the adult, the skull consists of 22 individual bones , 21 of which are immobile and united into a single unit. The 22nd bone is the mandible (lower jaw), which is the only moveable bone of the skull . Figure 1. Parts of the Skull. The cranial bones are the bones that form the protective case around the brain, known as the cranium or neurocranium. These bones enclose the cranial cavity and provide structural support and protection for the brain, meninges, cranial nerves, and blood vessels. In the adult human skull , there are eight cranial bones , which are fused together by immovable joints called sutures. Understanding these bones is fundamental to the study of human anatomy, especially for students in medicine ... Cranial bone anatomy can be confusing when we consider the various terms used to describe different areas. The following words are often used incorrectly; this list gives their true meaning: Skull or cranium : all bones of the head, from the top of the head to the hyoid bone (tongue bone ). The cranium is the sum of the cranial and facial bones , as well as the bony part of the larynx. Neurocranium: the top part of the skull that covers and protects the brain. Viscerocranium: the bottom part of ...