Final answer:
The statement is false; the bones of the face and cranial base are not easily pliable in an adult as they are tightly fused with connective tissue, making them quite rigid.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the bones of the face and the cranial base are easily pliable is false. In an adult, the bones of the skull, which include the cranial bones and facial bones, are tightly fused together with connective tissue. The cranial bones form the cranial cavity that encloses the brain and serves as an attachment site for the muscles of the head and neck. These bones are developed separately in the embryo and fetus but are not pliable once they have matured and fused in an adult.
It is noteworthy that while most bones are made entirely of cartilage at birth (true), and that a broken bone is indeed the same as a bone fracture (true), the structure of the bones evolve as we grow. The process of bone formation, or ossification, involves the conversion of a hyaline cartilage model into bone, which makes bones sturdy and less pliable with age.
The bones of the skull, including the frontal, parietal, and sphenoid bones, do not just provide support for the structures of the face but also offer vital protection for the brain.