Question

Explain the function of cranium.

Answer 1

Hint: The top most part of the brain is called cranium, it also protects the skull. The skull consists of the frontal, parietal, occipital, temporal, sphenoid, and ethmoid bones.

Complete Answer:
- If we talk about vertebrates, they contain a structure called skull, which is a bony structure. The main function of the skull is to support and protect the cavity of the brain. The skull forms the facial skeleton and its part.
- Cranium is responsible for forming anterior-most section of the skeleton and also forms the various sensory organs which come under parts of the facial bones.
- Cranium forms the upper most portion of the skull, with the bones of the face situated beneath its forward part. We can say that Cranium has an intimate relation to the sense organs for sight, sound, smell, and taste.
- The cranium is formed of bones of two different types of bones. The first type of bone is the cartilaginous or also called substitution bones and another type of bone is membrane bones, these bones are laid down within layers of connective tissue.
- The function of substitution bone is to form the floor of the cranium, while if we talk about membrane bones it forms the sides and roof.
- The cranium consists of a relatively few large bones, the frontal bone, the sphenoid bone, two temporal bones, two parietal bones, and the occipital bone as discussed in the hint. The frontal bone is present under the forehead region.
- There is an arching line present that separates the frontal bone from the two parietal bones, on the sides of the cranium. The frontal bone forms a joint with the two small bones; these bones are bridges of the nose and cheek bone. Talking about parietal bones, each parietal bone forms a large portion of the side walls of the cranium.

Note: Cranium forms the skeletal structure of the head and it supports the face and its structure. Our brain is overall protected by cranium.