Final answer:
The cranium, also known as the skull, is made up of eight bones that protect the brain. These include the frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital, sphenoid, and ethmoid bones. The skull has 22 bones in total with the rest being facial bones.
Step-by-step explanation:
The cranium, often referred to as the skull, is a vital part of the human skeleton that provides structure and protection for the brain. It is composed of eight distinct bones that are tightly fused together in adulthood, preventing any movement between them. The cranial bones include one frontal bone, two parietal bones, two temporal bones, one occipital bone, one sphenoid bone, and one ethmoid bone.
The ethmoid bone is particularly important as it separates the nasal cavity from the brain, while the sphenoid bone contributes to the formation of the eye sockets. The skull in total consists of 22 bones, with these eight cranial bones encasing the brain and the remaining 14 bones forming the structure of the face.
The cranial bones are connected by joints called sutures, which include the sagittal suture, coronal suture, lambdoid suture, and squamous suture, each named for its location and the bones it connects. Together, the cranial bones create the brain case or cranial vault, providing a secure enclosure for the brain.