Cranium

Cranium is the upper part of the human skull, which encloses and protects the brain. The cranium includes the frontal, parietal, occipital, temporal, sphenoid, and ethmoid bones.

Structure

The cranium is made up of eight bones: the frontal, two parietal, two temporal, occipital, sphenoid and ethmoid bones. These bones are connected by sutures, which are fibrous joints that allow very little movement.

Frontal Bone

The frontal bone is the bone that forms the front part of the skull and the upper part of the eye sockets.

Parietal Bones

The two parietal bones are located on each side of the skull, just behind the frontal bone.

Temporal Bones

The two temporal bones are found on the sides and base of the skull, and house the structures of the ears.

Occipital Bone

The occipital bone is the trapezoid-shaped bone found at the lower back area of the cranium.

Sphenoid Bone

The sphenoid bone is an unpaired bone of the neurocranium.

Ethmoid Bone

The ethmoid bone is a singular porous bone that makes up the middle area of the base of the cranium and the sides of the nose.

Function

The primary function of the cranium is to protect the brain against impacts. In addition, the bones of the cranium provide structure and shape to the head and support for facial structures.

Clinical Significance

Conditions that can affect the cranium include craniosynostosis, which is the premature fusion of the cranial sutures, and cranial fracture, which is a break in one or more of the bones of the skull usually occurring as a result of blunt force trauma.

See Also

• Skull
• Human skeleton
• Bone
• Brain

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