Brain in the Cranium

• The cranium protects the brain and sensory organs. It’s comprised of 2 parts: the neurocranium and the Viscerocranium
• The neurocranium is comprised of the:

  • skull cap / calvaria
  • cranial base / basicranium
  • an intracranial region - the inner surfaces of the base of the skull

  The neurocranium is formed by 8 bones - 4 unpaired bones and 2 pairs of bones:

  The unpaired bones are:

  • frontal
  • ethmoidal
  • sphenoidal
  • occipital

  The paired boned are:

  • the temporal bones
  • and the parietal bones
• The viscerocranium is comprised of the facial bones in the anterior part of the cranium - the bones surrounding the mouth, forming the upper and lower jaws, the nose and nasal cavity, and orbits.

  The Viscerocranium consists of 14 bones: 2 unpaired bones, and 6 pairs of bones:

  The unpaired bones are:

  • the mandible
  • and the vomer

  The paired bones are:

  • maxillae
  • inferior nasal conchae
  • zygomatic bones
  • palatine bones
  • nasal bones
  • and lacrimal bones
• The mandible is the only mobile bone of the cranium, articulating with the cranial base at the temporomandibular joint (TMJ)