The
human skull is the bony structure that forms the
head in the
human skeleton. It supports the structures of the face and forms a cavity for the
brain. Like the skulls of other
vertebrates, it protects the brain from injury. The skull consists of three parts, of different embryological origin – the
neurocranium, the sutures, and the
facial skeleton (also called the
membranous viscerocranium). The neurocranium (or
braincase) forms the protective bony structure that surrounds and houses the brain and
brainstem. The sutures are fairly rigid joints between bones of the neurocranium. The upper areas of the cranial bones form the
calvaria (skullcap), whereas the facial skeleton is formed by the bones supporting the face, including the
mandible. This picture is a diagram of the human skull as seen from the left, showing the main bones of the neurocranium and the facial skeleton.
Diagram credit: Mariana Ruiz Villarreal