kranie

Kranie, or cranium, is the part of the skull that surrounds and protects the brain. In humans the cranium proper, or neurocranium, forms the protective case for the brain and is distinct from the viscerocranium, the facial skeleton. It is composed of eight bones: the frontal bone; the two parietal bones; the two temporal bones; the occipital bone; the sphenoid bone; and the ethmoid bone. These bones form the cranial vault (calvaria) and the cranial base, connected by sutures.

Most cranial bones arise by intramembranous ossification, while the cranial base forms by endochondral ossification. At birth the sutures between bones and the fontanelles permit growth; these gaps typically close in early childhood.

Functions include protection of the brain, support for sensory organs, and attachment points for meninges and muscles. The temporal bones enclose parts of the ear; the cranium also provides attachment for jaw and neck muscles through various sutures and foramina.

Clinical relevance: injuries to the cranium include skull fractures and intracranial injuries. Craniosynostosis is a condition in which cranial sutures fuse prematurely, potentially affecting skull shape and brain growth. Radiological imaging, such as CT and MRI, is commonly used to evaluate cranial anatomy and trauma.

Etymology: the term cranium derives from Latin cranium, from Greek kranion, meaning skull.