Bones of the skull and head: anatomy and functions

Sometimes having a shield is beneficial, especially if it protects you from lethal damage, just as in the case of the human brain, which without having the protection of the bones that cover the head would be totally exposed to irreversible damage and therefore, it would be the end of our existence.

That is the importance of bones in our body, they are not only our support (we cannot even stand up being only muscles) but they are our wall against impacts.

But are the bones of our head even more important? There is no way to determine which bones have the highest priority in the human body, because the entire skeleton understands the same objective and is to protect internal organs so that we can survive Exterior. But the skull has a plus and that is that it helps the complete formation of the brain in the correct way, in addition to protecting it.

And that is precisely the topic that we will touch on in this article, you will be able to see which are the bones of the skull and their main functions, so you will know every aspect of this natural human armor.

What are the cranial bones?

There is a small but important distinction to be made in this section about what make up the cranial bones and the facial bones, as they are not the same.

To begin with, the skull is the natural bone protection that the human body has to protect the brain, which is why it is only found in our upper region of the head. While, the lower parts are considered facial bones, which connect with the skull and support all the organs and muscles of the head.

How do they look together? Well, it is the classic image that we can see to identify pirates or dangerous things, that is, a skull. Just as it is difficult to separate them, at least visually, these bones of the head have been divided into two sections:

• Neurocranial bones, which is the skull in its entirety, that is, the bones that cover the brain.

• Bones of the viscerocranium, which includes the rest of the lower bones (jaws, ears, nose and eye sockets).

Bones of the skull and head: anatomy and functions

Here we are going to know not only the bones that cover the brain, but we also explore a little more in the lower bones of the head.

1. Neurocranial bones

As we have already mentioned, these are the bones that protect the brain as a whole, but they are found only on the top of our heads.

1.1. Frontal bone

It is the bone that is located in the frontal region of the brain and allows to give the shape of the forehead to the head. This extends just before the eye sockets, so it is also the bridge that connects the neurocranial bones with those of the viscerocranium. Its main function is to protect the frontal region of the brain and therefore, make sure we have all the capacities of reasoning and mental executive functions.

1.2. Occipital bone

This is at the opposite pole, so it is behind the head protecting the occipital region of the brain. It extends from the upper back part of the skull (where the frontal bone ends) to the nape, forming a concave cavity and whose function is to protect the cerebellum, the brain stem, part of the occipital and parietal lobes, thus protecting motor capacities in their most.

1.3. Temporal bones

These are two bones located on each side of the skull, below the parietal bones and whose objective is to protect the temporal lobes, joins the rest of the skull by the coronary (frontal), squamous (parietal) and lambdoid sutures (occipital). Those who are responsible for giving the function greater than the capacity of auditory language and speech understanding, also protect auditory perception.

1.4. Parietal bones

In the same way as the previous one, they are two bones located on both sides of the head, but this time in the upper part forming the crown and its surroundings, present a symmetry between both and are soldiers. Its functions divide it into three areas:

• Scaly area, where it protects part of the cerebral cortex and therefore the processes of creativity and imagination, perception and judgment.

• Mastoid area, which protect part of the jaw and neck.

• Stone zone, which is classified as the base of the skull since it is located in a very deep area and is responsible for part of the auditory functions.

1.5. Ethmoid

It is located behind the nose, on the inside of the face, specifically between the sphenoid and the nasal bone, its morphology is rough in texture and has several cavities, including the eye sockets and the nostrils. Acting in turn as the separator between the two and as a connecting bridge with the meninges.

1.6. Sphenoid

Many consider this bone to be the cornerstone of the base of the skull and it has a rather particular figure as it resembles that of a butterfly. It is located at the level of the temple and extends from side to side of the skull, horizontally. It is also connected with the frontal, temporal and occipital bones, thus maintaining the greater union of the cranial bones.

2. Bones of the Viscerocranium

In this section you will know the rest of the bones that make up the head, that is to say, those that are in the inferior part of the skull.

2.1. Mandible

It is perhaps the most peculiar bone of all in the head, since it is the only one that has the capacity for movement, it has a base and two lateral branches attached to the temporal bones. In it, the lower teeth and the oral structure develop, so it has one of the great functions: speech and the ability to chew.

2.2. Maxillary

It is a single, irregular, short and compact bone in the skull and is located in the central part of the face, from the top of the mouth to the base of the nostrils. It is the base on which the upper teeth develop and in turn is the base of the rest of the bones of the viscerocranium.

2.3. Palatine

This is an extension of the jawbone and deepens with the surface of the face. It forms the roof of the mouth and serves as a support for the internal tissues.

2.4. Vomer

This is located behind the maxilla as a vertical thin plate and below the nose, thus contributing to the formation of the nasal septum.

2.5. Nasal bones

They are two small bones that are attached to each other, in the middle of the face, making up the nasal septum and cartilage, thus protecting the nose.

2.6. Lower nasal shell

Also known as the inferior turbinate, it is located behind the nostrils. It has a spongy and sticky consistency that supports the tissues that are lined with nasal mucosa and blood vessels and allows air to enter the nose.

2.7. Tear bones

They are also about two small structures, located behind the jawbone more specifically in the eye sockets and, as its name indicates it its main function is to provide a path for tears to flow from the eye to the cavity nasal.

2.8. Zygomatic bones

They are the bones that make up the cheekbones, so they have a rhomboid shape, located in the lower part of the eye sockets. Becoming a meeting point for the muscles that participate in chewing and the physical support of the eyes.

2.9. Ear bones

These three small bones of the ear are also part of the viscerocranium, although they do not have a supporting function or structure, like the rest of the bones of the head. However, it deserves a special mention due to the functions they fulfill. These are the smallest bones in the entire human body and are specialized in transmitting vibrations, making it one of the most important functions of all.

As they are in charge of capturing the vibrations, we can have the ability to interpret the wave patterns that the eardrum captures and are received by the inner ear, through electrical signals that reach the auditory nerves and travel through the brain, finally transforming the information received into the different sounds that we catch.

As you can see, the head is one of the most complex structures in the entire human body, with bases that are as solid as they are delicate at the same time. time, because they must have the strength of protection but sufficient flexibility to mold each shape of the bones of the viscerocranium and the neurocranium.