About the Human Skull

The human skull is a part of the axial skeletal system. The axial skeletal system is the core of the human skeleton and consists of the skull, the chest and ribs and the backbone. This system protects the parts of the body necessary for everyday functions such as the brain, central nervous system, spinal cord and many major internal organs like the heart and lungs. The skull protects the single most vital organ for human function, the brain.

Skull Components

The human skull is composed of 22 separate bones. Eight bones form the structure that protects the brain, known as the neurocranium. The splanchnocranium, or the 14 bones that form the face, are the foundation for the soft tissues that form facial features.

Skull Development

The human skull is soft and separated in the uterus. The skull bones are separated by fibrous suture regions that can compress, allowing an infant's head to pass safely through the birth canal. Infant skulls contain six fontanels or soft spots. Most of these fuse quickly, within eight weeks of birth, but the anterior or top of the head fontanel can remain open for up to 18 months.

Sexual Dimorphism

This term refers to the fact that the male and female skulls of a species show marked size differences. In the general case of humans, a male skull is larger and has more prominent temporal ridges. Male jawlines also tend to be more square and have thicker musculature attached to them. The extent of these differences, though, vary among racial populations.

Skull Morphology

A skull and teeth can be examined by a forensic scientist or an archaeologist for traits that can lead them to accurate conjectures about the life history such as age and lifestyle of the original owner. Approximate facial features can be reconstructed using skin depth indicators. When several skulls are found together, osteologists, scientists who specialize in bone structure, can use the information gathered to make generalizations about the height and width of population members.

Injuries

If the human brain becomes injured or bruised, the damage can be permanent and life-threatening. Most of the time, the skull protects the brain from serious injury. However, in a small number of cases, pressure can develop on the brain from inside the cranial cavity due to infection or injury. This is why people with a suspected concussion must be watched carefully to ensure the pressure doesn't damage or herniate the brain. In extreme cases, pressure can relieved by a procedure called trephination, which involves putting a hole in the skull to relieve pressure.