The neurocranium forms the cranial cavity that surrounds and protects the brain and brainstem. The neurocranium consists of the occipital bone, two temporal bones , two parietal bones , the sphenoid, ethmoid, and frontal bones—all are joined together with sutures. In the adult, the skull consists of 22 individual bones , 21 of which are immobile and united into a single unit. The 22nd bone is the mandible (lower jaw), which is the only moveable bone of the skull . Figure 1. Parts of the Skull. The skull is a complex bony structure that forms the head, enclosing and protecting the brain, sensory organs, and the upper part of the respiratory and digestive tracts. [2] It consists of 22 bones , divided into two main parts: the cranium , which encases the brain, and the facial bones , which form the structure of the face. These bones are connected by immovable joints called sutures, except for the mandible, which is movable. Bones of the skull form the cavity of the brain and support the structure of the face. It consists of 22 bones, categorized into cranial and facial bones, along with the mandible and hyoid bones. The cranial bones are 8 , and the facial bones are 14 in number, which shape the facial features.
