Final answer:
The bones occipital, sphenoid, frontal, temporal, and ethmoid are key components of the cranium, which provides protection for the brain and structural features for the face, including the eye sockets and nasal cavity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The occipital, sphenoid, frontal, temporal, and ethmoid bones are all part of the cranium, which is the upper portion of the skull that encases and protects the brain. The cranium consists of eight bones in total, with the five mentioned plus the paired parietal bones. The sphenoid bone is notable for forming the anterior walls and floor of the middle cranial fossa and has multiple openings for nerves and blood vessels, such as the optic canal and the superior orbital fissure. The ethmoid bone is crucial as it forms the roof and lateral walls of the upper nasal cavity, part of the nasal septum, and contributes to the medial wall of the orbit.
The frontal bone is involved in forming the eye sockets along with the sphenoid bone. It also contributes to the structure of the anterior skull and along with the sphenoid, maxillary, and other bones, forms the orbit that houses the eyeballs. The paranasal sinuses, which are air-filled spaces within these bones, are associated with the respiratory system.