Anatomy: The Cranium
A. Introduction The cranium (from the Greek word krania, meaning skull ) is the most cephalad aspect of the skeleton. The skull is the bony framework of the head. It composed of 22 bones (not counting the bones of the middle ears) and rest on the superior end of the vertebral column. The bones of the skull are divided into two regions: the neurocranium (which protects the brain) and the viscerocranium (which forms the face). The skull also supports tendinous muscle attachments and allows neurovascular passage between intracranial and extracranial anatomy. The skull is embryologically derived from mesoderm and neural crest and will fuse, harden, and mold from gestation through adulthood. It gives the human face its form, and even minor variations in anatomy among individuals can lead to vast differences in appearance. Various foramina, condyles, and other bony landmarks provide passageways and attachments for the im...