How many bones are in the human skull?

The human skull is composed of 22 bones (excluding the ear ossicles). It is divided into the cranial skeleton (8 bones) that protects the brain and the facial skeleton (14 bones) that supports facial structures.

What are the main functions of the skull?

The skull serves several key functions: it protects the brain and meninges, forms cavities for sensory organs like eyes and ears, provides openings for air and food passage, and supports teeth and jaws for chewing.

What are the joints in the skull?

Most skull bones are connected by sutures, which are immovable fibrous joints. The only movable joint is the temporomandibular joint, a synovial joint that connects the mandible to the temporal bone.

What are the standard views used to examine the skull?

The skull is typically examined from five standard views: Norma Verticalis (top view), Norma Occipitalis (posterior view), Norma Frontalis (anterior view), Norma Lateralis (lateral view), and Norma Basalis (inferior view).

What are the key differences between male and female skulls?

Male skulls tend to have thicker and heavier bones, more prominent muscle markings, and larger mastoid processes. Female skulls are generally thinner and lighter with less prominent features like superciliary arches.

What are fontanelles in a newborn skull?

Fontanelles are soft membranous gaps between the bones of a newborn's skull. There are six, including the anterior fontanelle, which closes by around 2 years of age, allowing for brain growth and flexibility during birth.

What are sutural (Wormian) bones?

Sutural or Wormian bones are small, irregular extra bones that occur along cranial sutures, such as the lambdoid suture. Examples include the Inca bone at lambda and the Os Kerckring at bregma, often seen in conditions like hydrocephalus.

Skull Anatomy – Cranial Bones vs Facial Bones

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