The name of the skull is the cranium. The cranium, derived from the Greek word krania meaning skull, is the uppermost part of the axial skeleton. It's composed of 22 bones and divided into two main regions: the neurocranium (protecting the brain) and the viscerocranium (forming the face). The skull is also sometimes referred to as the braincase. While various bones contribute to its structure (including cranial bones, facial bones, and ossicles), the overarching term is cranium.
Understanding the Cranium's Components
The cranium isn't a single bone, but rather a complex structure formed by several bones fused together. These include:
- Cranial Bones: These form the protective shell around the brain, including the frontal, occipital, and two parietal bones. The cranial roof is also known as the calvarium.
- Facial Bones: These bones make up the structure of the face. Examples include the maxilla, zygomatic, mandible, nasal bones, and more.
- Ossicles: These are tiny bones located in the middle ear, involved in hearing.
Note that the mandible (jawbone) is the only movable bone in the skull.
The number of bones in the skull is often cited as 22 (plus the 6 ossicles within the middle ear).
Examples of different terms used:
- While "skull" is the common term, "cranium" is frequently used in anatomical and medical contexts. This reference to the cranium as the skull is supported by the provided text which states, "The cranium, or skull, is composed of 22 bones..."
- The term "braincase" is another way to refer to the cranial portion of the skull, focusing on its protective function.
This information is supported by various sources including medical texts and anatomical references. While a Reddit thread discusses the name of a character's horse, it is unrelated to the anatomical term for a skull.
