The skull is a bony structure that forms the head in vertebrates, providing protection for the brain and support for the structures of the face. It consists of two main parts: the cranium and the facial bones.
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The human skull consists of 22 bones, which are joined by sutures, except for the mandible.
The cranium encloses and protects the brain while the facial bones provide cavities for sensory organs such as eyes, ears, and nose.
The foramen magnum is a large opening at the base of the skull through which the spinal cord connects to the brain.
In addition to protection, some skull bones contain sinuses which help reduce bone mass and improve voice resonance.
During development, an infant's skull has fontanelles (soft spots) that allow for growth of the brain and skull.