The structure of the human skull. Photo with description, anatomy. Rear, front, top, side, sectional view

The human skull performs the function of preserving the main organ of the human body—the brain, which is the central nervous system of the entire organism. The structure of the cranium is evolutionarily required to be strong, but flexible, in relation to the transmission of data from the body to the brain.

Its bones have many interlacings and labyrinths that hold organs in contact with the environment and are strong enough to provide maximum protection from external mechanical influences. The photo with the description in the article shows large and small areas of the skull and their relationship to each other.

Anatomy - structure of the skull

The structure of the skull consists of two main zones: the facial bones and the brain. The facial bones contain organs that connect a person with the world: vision, smell, breathing, hearing, speech. The design of the skull includes 23 bones, 8 of them have a pair on both sides of the head, 7 do not.

7 bones out of the total number, related to the sensory organs, provide strength to the skull without additional weighting due to their non-standard shape and are considered air-bearing.

Photo of the structure of the human skull with a description of the bones

The structure of the human skull: anatomy of bone, cartilage and muscle structures

It is generally accepted that the main role in the structure of the head is played by bone formations: they surround the brain tissue with a dense frame, act as protective cavities for the eye sockets, hearing organs, nasal cavity, serve as a place for muscle attachment and form openings for the passage of blood vessels and nerve fibers. Cartilaginous structures form the outer part of the nose and ears, and in infancy they also replace some parts of the bones, providing mobility and thereby preventing childhood injuries during childbirth.

The muscles of the head surround the skull with a relatively thin covering. Some facial features, features of facial expressions and the possibility of free movement of the lower jaw, due to which the chewing process is carried out, depend on their structure and degree of development. As a rule, muscle fibers are tightly attached to the bones and follow the shape of the skull throughout.

Occipital bone

The structure of the human skull (a photo with a description will help you navigate the anatomical location of the bones) includes one of the largest bones - the occipital bone. It is a flat, round, regular bone with a wide opening for the spinal column. It is convex on the outside and concave on the inside.

This is an unpaired bone and includes 4 sections surrounding this hole:

• basilar part - in front of the opening for the spinal column (if you look at the skull “face”);
• two lateral parts located on either side of the pillar;
• the occipital scales are located behind the column.

The basilar part has 4 corners and in front passes into the wedge-shaped section, attached to the bone with the help of a cartilaginous growth. And the lateral parts merge with the temporal ones, also connecting with cartilaginous tissue. They are located along the spinal column on the reverse side, flowing in front into the basilar part, and behind into the occipital scales. As it moves from the edge of the back of the head to the center of the skull, it becomes thinner.

Sphenoid bone

The sphenoid bone is hidden inside the head and has a square shape. Bone processes grow on the sides of it. At the back, it passes into the occipital, thanks to cartilaginous tissue, which ossifies over time and turns into a single bone. In front of the central part of the sphenoid bone there is a small notch designed to accommodate the pituitary gland.

Anterior to the opening for the pituitary gland, on each side there are two more tiny openings for passing nerves and the ophthalmic artery. On the reverse side, the sphenoid bone faces the nasal region, which is the hidden nasal wall.

On both sides of the center there are holes connecting the nose to the central system. On the same side of the sphenoid bone, both sides of the processes are the posterior walls of the orbits. These processes have a certain number of holes that serve as passages for the nerves and vessels of the central nervous system. From below, the processes are attached to the sky.

Structure of the base of the skull

There are two sections at the base of the skull : the outer base of the skull (basis cranii externa) and the inner base of the skull (basis cranii interna). The outer base of the skull in the anterior section is 1/3 covered by the facial skull, and only the posterior and middle sections are formed by the bones of the brain skull.

The structure of the outer base of the skull : 1 - incisive foramen, foramen incisivum; 2 - palatine process of the maxillary bone, maxilla, processus palatinus; 3 - zygomatic process of the maxillary bone, maxilla, processus zygomaticus; 4 - palatine bone, os palatinum; 5 - zygomatic bone; 6 - large palatine foramen, foramen palatinum majus; 7 - pterygoid process of the sphenoid bone, ossis sphenoidalis, processus pterygoideus; 8 - zygomatic arch, arcus zygomaticus; 9 - oval foramen, foramen ovale; 10 - mandibular fossa, fossa mandibularis; 11 - external auditory canal, meatus acusticus externus; 12 - mastoid process of the temporal bone, processus mastoideus; 13 - mastoid foramen, foramen mastoideum; 14 - condyle of the occipital bone, condylus occipitalis; 15 - external crest of the occipital bone; 16 - external occipital protuberance, protuberantia occipitalis externus; 17 - highest nuchal line; 18 - upper nuchal line, linea nuchae superior; 19 - lower nuchal line, linea nuchae inferior; 20 - parietal bone, os parietale; 21 - large (occipital) foramen, foramen magnum; 22 - jugular fossa, fossa jugularis; 23 - styloid process, processus styloideus; 24 - carotid canal, canalis caroticus; 25 - temporal bone; 26 — vomer, vomer; 27 - large wing of the sphenoid bone, os sphenoidale, ala major; 28 - molars; 29 - premolars; 30 - fang; 31 - incisors

The base of the skull is uneven and has a large number of openings through which blood vessels and nerves pass. In the posterior section there is the occipital bone, along the midline of which the external occipital protrusion and the external occipital crest descending downwards are visible. Anterior to the squama of the occipital bone lies the large (occipital) foramen, bounded laterally by the occipital condyles and anteriorly by the body of the sphenoid bone. At the base of the mastoid process there is a foramen mastoideum, which belongs to the venous outlets. Medial and anterior to the mastoid process is the stylomastoid foramen, and in front of it is the styloid process.

At the top of the pyramid there is a ragged opening (foramen lacerum), in front of which at the base of the pterygoid processes there passes the pterygoid canal (canalis pterygoideus), which opens into the pterygopalatine fossa. At the base of the large wings of the sphenoid bone are the foramen ovale, and somewhat posteriorly the foramen spinosum. Outside the pyramid of the temporal bone is the mandibular fossa, and anteriorly is the articular tubercle. The inner base of the skull represents an uneven concave surface, in which three cranial fossae are distinguished: anterior, middle and posterior .

The structure of the internal base of the skull, cranium (top view): 1 - frontal bone (inner surface); 2 - cockscomb, crista galli; 3 - cribriform plate of the ethmoid bone; 4 - orbital part of the frontal bone; 5 - lesser wing of the sphenoid bone, os sphenoidale, ala minor; 6 - visual canal, canalis opticus; 7 - superior orbital fissure, fissura orbitalis superior; 8 - round hole, foramen rotundum; 9 - pituitary fossa, fossa hypophysialis; 10 - back of the sella turcica, dorsum sellae; 11 - oval hole, foramen ovale; 12 - spinous foramen, foramen spinosum; 13 - internal auditory opening, porus acusticus internus; 14 - groove of the superior petrosal sinus, sulcus sinus petrosi superiori; 15 - external aperture of the vestibule water supply; 16 - canal of the hypoglossal nerve; 17 - groove of the transverse sinus, sulcus sinus transversi; 18 - large (occipital) foramen; 19 - internal occipital protrusion; 20 - condylar canal, canalis condylaris; 21 - groove of the sigmoid sinus, sulcus sinus sigmoidei; 22 - slope, clivus; 23 - groove of the lower stony sinus, sulcus sinus petrosi inferiors; 24 — arcuate elevation; 25 - cleft canal of the greater petrosal nerve; 26 - cleft canal of the lesser petrosal nerve; 27 - torn hole, foramen lacerum; 28 - scales of the temporal bone, os temporale, pars squamosa; 29 — large wing of the sphenoid bone; 30 - arterial grooves; 31 - blind hole, foramen caecum; 32 - finger impressiones digitatae

The anterior cranial fossa (fossa cranii anterior) is formed by the nasal and orbital parts of the frontal bone, the lesser wings of the sphenoid bone, and the cribriform plate of the ethmoid bone. The middle cranial fossa (fossa cranii media) is formed by the sphenoid and temporal bones. At the top of the pyramid, next to the internal opening of the carotid canal, there is a ragged opening. On the anterior surface there is a trigeminal depression: here, under the hard shell of the GM, lies the trigeminal ganglion. Posteriorly on the anterior surface of the pyramid there are grooves and clefts of the canals of the lesser and greater petrosal nerves, the semicircular eminence and the roof of the tympanic cavity are located. At the base of the large wings there are three openings from front to back: round, oval and spinous. The maxillary nerve passes through the foramen rotundum into the pterygopalatine fossa, the mandibular nerve passes through the oval foramen into the infratemporal fossa, and the middle meningeal artery passes through the spinous foramen into the middle cranial fossa. In the anterolateral sections of the middle cranial fossa, between the small and large wings, there is the superior orbital fissure (fissura orbitalis superior), through which the III, IV, VI cranial nerves and the optic nerve pass.

The posterior cranial fossa (fossia cranii posterior) is formed by the occipital bone, the posterior surface of the pyramid, the body of the sphenoid bone and partially the parietal bone. At the border of the brain and facial skull there are pits that are very important in practical terms: temporal, infratemporal and pterygopalatine .

Temporal, infratemporal and pterygopalatine fossa; right view (zygomatic arch removed) : 1 - greater wing of the sphenoid bone; 2 - temporal line; 3 - temporal surface of the frontal bone; 4 - zygomatic process of the frontal bone; 5 - frontal process of the zygomatic bone; 6 - inferior orbital fissure; 7 - maxillary surface of the large wing of the sphenoid bone; 8 - sphenopalatine foramen; 9 - infraorbital foramen; 10 - alveolar openings; 11 - zygomatic process of the maxillary bone; 12 - tubercle of the maxillary bone; 13 - pyramidal process of the palatine bone; 14-pterygoid hook; 15-lateral plate of the pterygoid process; 16 - pterygomaxillary fissure; 17 - perpendicular plate of the palatine bone; 18 - infratemporal fossa; 19 — infratemporal surface of the greater wing of the sphenoid bone; 20 — zygomatic arch (sawed off); 21 - infratemporal crest; 22 - wedge-zygomatic suture; 23 - scaly part of the temporal bone; 24 - wedge-scale suture

The temporal fossa (fossa temporalis) is bounded above and behind by the temporal line, externally by the zygomatic arch, below by the infratemporal crest of the greater wing of the sphenoid bone, and in front by the zygomatic bone. The temporalis muscle lies in the temporal fossa. The infratemporal fossa (fossa infratemporalis) is formed from above by the large wing of the sphenoid bone and the temporal scales, by the medial-lateral plate of the pterygoid process, in front by the infratemporal surface of the upper jaw and partially by the temporal surface of the zygomatic bone, laterally by the zygomatic arch and the branch of the mandible. The infratemporal fossa communicates with the orbit through the inferior orbital fissure, through the fissura pterygomaxillaris with the pterygopalatine fossa, and through the foramen spinosum and foramen ovale with the middle cranial fossa. The pterygopalatine fossa (fossa pterygopalatina) is bounded anteriorly by the tuber maxillae, the medially perpendicular plate of the palatine bone, posteriorly by the pterygoid process, and superiorly by the maxillary surface of the greater wing of the sphenoid bone. It opens from the outside through the pterygomaxillary fissure into the infratemporal fossa. The pterygopalatine fossa communicates through the pterygopalatine canal with the foramen lacerum, through the foramen rotundum with the middle cranial fossa, through the sphenopalatine foramen with the nasal cavity, through the lower orbital fissure with the orbit, through the greater palatine canal with the oral cavity.

Frontal bone

The second largest cranial zone is round in shape, starting at the crown of the head and ending in the middle of the eye sockets, encompassing part of the set of bones that form the nose. This is a solid bone on both sides, having on the outer side the brow ridges, glabella and frontal tubercles. The frontal bone includes the supratemporal arches, and the interval involving the temporal lobe.

On the inside, the bone is strewn with grooves from adjacent veins; its central part is cut through by a depression from the sagittal sinus. In the area of ​​the glabella there are openings that provide access to the frontal sinus; between them is the nasal bone. The frontal lobe is continuous, unpaired, passing into the parietal lobe through the coronal suture. On the sides it merges with the sphenoid and zygomatic bones.

Ethmoid bone

The structure of the human skull (the photo with the description shows parts of the ethmoid bone) includes another bone located inside the cranial set of bones. This small bone belongs to the nasal family.

It includes in its design a top with a growth called a “cockscomb” , which has “cock’s wings” on the sides and a bottom that is part of the formation of the nose. On different sides of the “cockscomb”, along them, there are numerous openings for nerves passing into the brain.

On the sides of the “cock’s wings” there are flat areas that form parts of the eye sockets. These pieces also contain 1 through passage for vessels. The bottom of the ethmoid bone is filled with many canals, visually resembling a labyrinth.

Shapes of the skull

Description of skull shapes:

• the usual form is the cranial index;
• tower-shaped anomaly - acrocephaly;
• early fusion of sutures - craniostenosis.

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Opener

Another unpaired bony plate of the facial set of bones that forms the nasal septum, paired with the ethmoid bone. It looks like a trapezoidal flat elongated bone, which bifurcates towards the top into two petals, merging in this area with the sphenoid bone. The lower region is connected by the maxillary process and the palate.

The opener consists of 4 main sides:

• palatine;
• lattice;
• left;
• free.

Temporal bone

The human skull includes in its structure a paired bone called the temporal bone (as indicated in the photo with the description). On the sides of the skull, the zygomatic process protrudes from the temporal bones, which is a landmark when examining one of the pieces of the temporal bone.

A process called a “pyramid” protrudes inside the structure. This shape is visually similar to a sea shell. Its surface includes two through passages for the petrosal nerves.

At the top of the “pyramid” there is a cavity of the auditory canal, which opens into the carotid canal in the lower bony part, located at the foot of the zygomatic process. The facial nerve also cuts the bone there, also emerging from the lower part of the temporal structure.

On the outer part, under the process, there is the tympanic part, which belongs to the ear zone and a dimple for attaching the lower jaw. At the bottom of the temporal part there are grooves for the glossopharyngeal and vagus nerves. There is also a wide exit for the carotid artery. The bone is located on the periphery of three Bones - parietal, sphenoid and occipital.

Sutures and joints are like connective tissue

The sutures of the skull are fibrous. When connecting its parts, there is only one joint, movable, - the temporomandibular joint.

Thanks to this joint, a person can perform chewing and speech movements. It moves in all directions: sideways, up, down, forward or backward.

In anatomy, the sutures that connect bones are divided into three types:

• scaly;
• flat;
• serrated.

All parts of the facial section are connected by smooth, flat seams. The parietal and temporal bones are connected by a scaly suture. The parietal and frontal parts are united by the coronal suture. The sutures are clearly visible in the photo of the skull from the back.

Skull: back view

You can learn more about how many bones are in the human skull, what they are called in Latin, and their arrangement in a video for medical students.

Also watch a film about the anatomy of the skull bones.

Parietal bone

This part has its own pair and is located in the area of ​​the cranial vault. A sagittal suture passes through both of its parts. It is connected to the occipital part by a lambdoid suture, and to the frontal part by a coronoid suture. The temporal bones extend from the sides of the parietal bone. The structure of the parietal bone is solid, with a convex part on the outside and a concave part on the inside.

It includes 4 sides:

• sagittal;
• occipital;
• scaly;
• frontal

Inside, it is covered with grooves from cerebral convolutions and blood vessels. From the sagittal part, in the center, there is a parietal foramen. On the outer side there are two temporal stripes.

Consequences of skull base fractures and prognosis

Experts note that the future quality of life of patients directly depends on the quality of rehabilitation after TBI, as well as on the nature of this injury, pathologies and possible infections. In the absence of purulent inflammation, in most cases, doctors give a favorable prognosis.

If there are infectious complications, doctors talk about the possibility of developing complications such as encephalopathy, frequent headaches, uncontrolled increase in blood pressure, etc. in the future. This condition may also be accompanied by recurrent epileptic seizures.

Some traumatic brain injuries can cause excessive bleeding, coma, and even death. With such injuries, the prognosis of doctors is extremely unfavorable.

Bleeding of small volumes, intracerebral hematomas, etc. can form. It is worth noting that in this situation, the patient’s future directly depends on the timeliness and adequacy of the treatment.

Lacrimal bone

A pair of bones located in the skull, behind the nose.

It has a cuboid shape, connecting to adjacent bone sections on all 6 sides:

• with frontal;

• with ethmoid bone;
• with upper jaw;
• on the sides complements part of the eye sockets.

The lacrimal bone is a small part of the eye and sinus. The posterior flattened part of the bone has a ridge, the anterior thinned part has a groove from the lacrimal canal. On the side of the orbit there is a fossa for the lacrimal sac. It passes into the main nasolacrimal duct.

Nasal bone

The structure of the human skull (in the photo with the description you can see a more detailed structure) includes a set of large and small bones that perform one function, in this case respiratory. The nasal bone is a miniature plate that complements the bony formation of the nose, along with the lacrimal plate.

It grows from the frontal and passes into the upper jaw. The bone has its own pair and is shaped like a bent rectangular plate. Its parts meet in the middle thanks to the internasal seam. The upper tip is slightly upturned at the transition to the frontal area.

On the surface of the nasal bone on the reverse side there is a depression from the ethmoidal nerve. The lower part is connected to the upper jaw by cartilages that form the nose of a living person.

SCULL

SKULL, 1) a cartilaginous capsule that protects the brain in cephalopods. 2) The skeleton of the head of vertebrates, formed by cartilage and/or bone. Changes in blood during evolution are due to the progressive development of the brain and sensory organs, the replacement of gill respiration with pulmonary respiration, and a change in feeding methods when leaving the aquatic environment on land. Ch. is represented by the endocranium (embryonic cartilaginous Ch. and its derivatives in the skeleton of adult animals) and dermatocranium (false bones of cutaneous origin). The endocranium consists of the cerebral part, which develops as an anterior continuation of the axial skeleton of the body, growing around the brain, organs of smell and hearing, and the visceral (in humans called facial) part, the skeleton of the anterior intestine (pharynx). The dermatocranium includes the bones of the roof and base of the jaw, the palatoquadrate complex, the lower jaw, the operculum and the gill membrane (in fish), and a few. superimposed ossifications of the hyoid and branchial arches. The most ancient vertebrates (jawless) had a cartilaginous or partially ossified endocranium and a well-developed dermatocranium. In modern In cyclostomes and cartilaginous fishes, there are no superimposed ossifications in the skeleton. The endocranium incompletely ossifies in many. bony fishes and modern amphibians. Depending on the method of connecting the first visceral arches with the cerebral Ch., amphistyly, autostyly, and hyostyly are distinguished.

Among modern In vertebrates, cyclostomes have the most primitive structure. In cartilaginous fish, the brain is massive, well-formed, and its prenostril section, the rostrum, is usually highly developed. The function of the jaws is performed by the anterior gill (visceral) arch, followed by the hyoid arch - a pendant that connects the jaw arch with the brain. The remaining arches in fish bear gills. In bony fishes, the brain and jaw arch are covered with false bones. With the transition to a terrestrial lifestyle, the total number of bones of Ch. decreases. In terrestrial vertebrates, the palatoquadrate cartilage fuses with the medullary cartilage, its anterior part is usually reduced, the upper part of the hyoid arch is transformed into an auditory ossicle, the branchial arches, together with the lower part of the hyoid arch, are transformed into the hyoid apparatus, the operculum disappears, and the roof of the cerebral skull remains intact. or to some other extent formed by overhead bones. In modern In amphibians, the superimposed ossifications of the temporal and buccal regions are greatly reduced. Reptiles are characterized by the development of temporal fenestrae and temporal arches; crocodiles have a well-developed secondary bony palate. In birds and mammals, the volume of the cranial cavity sharply increases, which is associated with an increase in the size of the brain. In birds, the bones of Ch. are thin and merge into a complete cranium. They are also characterized by the presence of toothless jaws that form a beak. Some birds have a hard palate; the features of its structure are systematic. sign. For Ch. plural mammals are characterized by complex bones (eg, occipital, temporal) of several fused ones. The posterior bones of the jaw arch form the complement. auditory ossicles. In this regard, a new jaw joint is formed. The hyoid and branchial arches are represented by the hyoid apparatus and the cartilages of the larynx.

Human skull (side view): 1 – coronal suture; 2 – frontal bone; 3 – large wing of the main bone; 4 – supraorbital foramen; 5 – eye socket; 6 – nasal bones; 7 &n…

The human body consists of 23 bones. All of them, except the mandibular and sublingual, are firmly connected by sutures. Brain volume approx. 1500 cm3. Its upper part forms the roof, and the lower part forms the base of the Ch. From the inside at the base there are depressions (anterior, middle and posterior fossae), where the frontal and temporal lobes and the cerebellum are located (respectively). Through numerous the channels and openings of the base pass nerves and blood vessels, and through the foramen magnum the cavity of the Ch. communicates with the cavity of the spine. The medullary part consists of unpaired bones—the occipital, frontal, sphenoid, and paired temporal and parietal bones; it partially includes the ethmoid bone. The facial part makes up the bony skeleton of the upper sections of the respiratory (nose) and digestive (mouth, pharynx) organs; it contains the organs of hearing, vision, and the olfactory part of the nose. The facial part of the jaw consists of small bones, the largest of which are the upper and lower jaws. On both jaws there are cells for teeth. The totality of the bones of the facial face determines the shape of the face. The average circumference of a human is 52–64 cm, length 15–18 cm, width 12–15 cm. During the process of growth, the shape of the human undergoes changes. At birth, the bones are not fully developed, and there are connectives between them. membranes called fontanelles. In early childhood, the cerebral part has a significantly larger volume compared to the facial part. With age, these differences are smoothed out, and gradual ossification of the sutures occurs. In old age, there is a decrease in the size of the lower part of the face (with atrophy of the lower jaw). In men, the jaw is slightly larger than in women, its bones are more massive, and the bone relief is more developed (superciliary area, muscle attachment lines on the temporal and occipital bones, on the lower jaw).

In the process of anthropogenesis, humanity gradually loses the features characteristic of human ancestors and acquires a structure characteristic of modern times. for a person: the cerebral region begins to dominate over the facial region, the cranial roof rises, its frontal region becomes wider and higher (due to an increase in the frontal and parietotemporal regions of the brain); The supraorbital ridges, which are highly developed in fossil people, weaken and turn into brow ridges; the longitudinal ridge of Ch. disappears; the back of the head becomes rounded and loses the ridge and other bone growths that were pronounced in ancient people, which served as the attachment point for powerful neck muscles; The forward protrusion of the facial part of the jaw decreases, and a chin protuberance develops on the lower jaw. The structural features of blacks are of great importance in anthropology and are used in the study of races and in ethnography.

Upper jaw

Paired facial bone on the nose. Its seam begins between the two front teeth and ends at the bridge of the nose. The solid formation is related to the air-bearing ones. Thanks to the nasal sinuses present in it, it takes part in breathing. The lower part includes the upper row of teeth and the roof of the mouth.

The composition contains 4 surfaces:

• front;
• infratemporal
• nasal;
• orbital.

Under the orbits, on both sides of the maxillary process, there are through passages pierced by the trigeminal nerves. Education is included in the formation of the eye sockets, occupying most of it.

It also occupies a significant area of ​​the hard palate, where it passes into the sphenoid bone. Between the sphenoid and maxillary bones, in the eye sockets, there are eye clefts. In the infraorbital zone, the jaw under the bevel passes into the zygomatic formation, in the area of ​​​​the bridge of the nose - into the frontal formation.

Cheekbone

A pair of small bones involved in the formation of the eye socket, which takes on the function of supporting the eye and distributing pressure during chewing of food. The zygomatic bone is the largest part of the cheek, due to its arched outer protrusion.

Its upper process passes into the forehead, the lateral and lower into the upper jaw. Posteriorly it meets the zygomatic process of the temporal formation. There is a through passage above the zygomatic tubercle, through which the zygomatic nerve extends.

The bone has 3 surfaces:

• lateral;
• temporal;
• orbital.

Lower jaw

An unpaired, irregularly structured bone, including the chin and the alveolar part - the lower row of teeth. The heads of the lower jaw are attached to the temporal bone. Its shape has 3 parts: a body and 2 branches. The frontal region has two through passages on the sides, under the fangs, for the passage of tendons responsible for the work of the lower jaw.

The branch, at its apex, flows into two other elevations - the condylar tip and the coronoid, connected by an arched notch concave inside the branch. On the reverse side of the jaw there are grooves from the mylohyoid joints and a passage leading into the jaw.

Hyoid bone

A small solid bone located under the tongue, leading to the speech apparatus system and the work of the lower jaw. This is an independent part, not fused with the rest of the bones, attached to the tissues through joints and muscles. It is located under the lower jaw at the beginning of the laryngeal column, its front part is located on the same axis with the end of the molars.

Its shape resembles a horseshoe. The bone structure consists of a main plate with long and small horns on the right and left. The main part is connected to the upper horns by cartilage tissue, the small ones grow from the body of the bone itself. Large horns are attached to the laryngeal cartilage.

The movements of the hyoid bone are caused by the work of the lingual muscles, which force it to change position during speech and chewing food.

The system of development of the skull, as we know it at this stage of evolution, has provided a person with the opportunity to carry with him important elements involved in communication, data storage, analysis and other processes that fit into just one part of the body - the head.

The human skull has a unique structure, unlike the structure of the skull of other mammals - only in intelligent creatures the brain section is located above the facial part.

The Institute of Human Anatomy devoted an entire section to the study of the structure of the skull, which was called craniology, widely used in anthropology. The photo with description shows the evolution of the human skull to the present time.

Article design: Mila Friedan

Child's skull

The children's skull has a specific anatomy. With age, its structure changes.

For example, a newly born child has fontanelles - loosely closed areas. The most noticeable are considered to be the front and rear. The large fontanelle closes closer to 12 months, and the small one closes at 1.5 months.

If a child exhibits even the slightest deviation from the accepted norm for this period, you should contact a specialist.

What other features does a child’s skull have? The sutures on the child’s skull are connective tissue. Thanks to this connection, the child moves through the birth canal without consequences, and as the brain develops, it grows with it. The sutures completely ossify only at 30 years of age. Children's head bones have the ability to change their shape. It grows until the age of 13 and stops while the rest of the bones continue this physiological process.