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Overview of the Skull

Overview of the Skull

The cranium (skull) is the skeletal structure of the head that supports the face and protects the brain. It is subdivided into the facial bones and the brain case, or cranial vault. The facial bones underlie the facial structures, form the nasal cavity, enclose the eyeballs, and support the teeth of the upper and lower jaws.
The cranial vault surrounds and protects the brain and houses the middle and inner ear structures. This cavity is bounded superiorly by the rounded top of the skull, which...

Sutures of the Skull

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The human skull is composed of several bones that come together to protect the brain and support the structures of the face. The junctions where these bones meet are called sutures.
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Cranial Bones: Superior and Posterior View

Cranial Bones: Superior and Posterior View

The superior view of the cranium shows the frontal and paired parietal bones.
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Synteny and Evolution

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Around 80 million years ago, the human and mice lineages diverged from the common ancestor. During the course of evolution, the ancestral...

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What is Evolutionary History?

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 28, 2025

Reverse Dissection and DiceCT Reveal Otherwise Hidden Data in the Evolution of the Primate Face

Reverse Dissection and DiceCT Reveal Otherwise Hidden Data in the Evolution of the Primate Face

Published on: January 7, 2019

Craniofacial Evolution: From Australopithecus to Modern Man.

Sergio Sambataro^1,2, Luca Fiorillo¹, Salvatore Bocchieri²

¹Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences, Morphological and Functional Images, University of Messina, Messina, ME.

The Journal of Craniofacial Surgery

|July 16, 2021

Summary

Human evolution involved bipedality and increased brain size, significantly altering skull morphology. These changes, including mandibular evolution and the temporomandibular joint, shaped Homo sapiens, the direct ancestor of modern humans.

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Last Updated: Oct 28, 2025

Reverse Dissection and DiceCT Reveal Otherwise Hidden Data in the Evolution of the Primate Face

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Published on: January 7, 2019

Assessing Species-specific Contributions To Craniofacial Development Using Quail-duck Chimeras

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Published on: May 31, 2014

Systematic Assessment of Mammalian Skull Specimens for Dental and Temporomandibular Joint Pathology

Systematic Assessment of Mammalian Skull Specimens for Dental and Temporomandibular Joint Pathology

Published on: August 22, 2022

Area of Science:

Paleoanthropology
Evolutionary Biology
Craniofacial Anatomy

Background:

Analysis of teeth and jaws aids species differentiation and understanding human evolution.
Hominin evolution is marked by bipedality and increased brain size, impacting skull structure and function.

Purpose of the Study:

To retrace the evolutionary steps leading to Homo sapiens.
To examine the impact of evolutionary trends on hominine skull morphology and function.

Main Methods:

Literature review of scientific articles from Medline (PubMed) and Google Scholar (1929-2018).
Analysis of fossil evidence detailing changes in hominid evolution.

Main Results:

Bipedality and brain expansion significantly influenced skull morphology.
Mandibular evolution, including chin appearance and Spee curve formation, is noted.
Development of the temporomandibular joint improved function and efficiency.

Conclusions:

Basicranial flexion and growth led to characteristic facial modifications in modern humans.
Understanding human form and function through ontogenesis is crucial for clinical applications.