neurocraniumát

The neurocranium, also known as the cranial vault or braincase, is the part of the skull that encloses and protects the brain. It is a complex bony structure formed by the fusion of several bones. In adults, the neurocranium is typically 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 are united by immovable joints called sutures.

The primary function of the neurocranium is to safeguard the delicate neural tissue of the brain from external trauma. Its rounded shape and the arrangement of its bones provide a strong and resilient protective casing. The inner surface of the neurocranium is molded to accommodate the convolutions of the brain, and it also serves as an attachment site for the meninges, the membranes that further protect the brain and spinal cord.

In infants and young children, the bones of the neurocranium are not fully fused, and there are membranous gaps called fontanelles. These fontanelles allow for slight compression of the skull during birth and accommodate the rapid growth of the brain in early life. As a child matures, the fontanelles gradually close, and the sutures fuse, forming the rigid cranial vault of the adult. The overall volume and structure of the neurocranium are critical for brain development and function.