Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

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

Sutures of the Skull

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.
Sutures are immobile joints between adjacent bones of the skull. The narrow gap between the bones is filled with dense, fibrous connective tissue that unites the bones. The long sutures located between the skull bones are not straight but instead follow irregular, tightly twisting paths. These twisting lines tightly...

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.
The frontal bone is the single bone that forms the forehead. At its anterior midline, between the eyebrows, there is a slight depression called the glabella. The frontal bone also forms the supraorbital margin of the orbit. Near the middle of this margin is the supraorbital foramen, the opening that provides passage for a sensory nerve to the forehead. The frontal bone is thickened just above each supraorbital margin,...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Statin Use Is Associated With Improved Survival But Not Progression-Free Outcomes in Patients With Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma Receiving Atezolizumab-Bevacizumab.

Hepatology research : the official journal of the Japan Society of Hepatology·2026

Same author

Direct and Functional Hazard Exposure of Urban Healthcare Systems Under Estimated Tsunami Inundation Zones: A Geographic Information System (GIS)-Based Cross-Boundary Analysis in Osaka City, Japan.

Cureus·2026

Same author

Limited indication of postoperative anticoagulation based on age reduces the incidence of deep venous thrombosis after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: A retrospective study.

Asia-Pacific journal of sports medicine, arthroscopy, rehabilitation and technology·2026

Same author

Limitations of the p16-3MR mouse model for detecting and eliminating senescent cells.

EMBO reports·2026

Same author

Three Mycobacterium avium genotypes classified by 1.4-Mb genomic inversion and single-nucleotide variations are tightly linked to disease progression.

International journal of infectious diseases : IJID : official publication of the International Society for Infectious Diseases·2026

Same author

Rifaximin Improves Cognitive Performance and Reduces Cirrhosis-Related Adverse Events in Covert Hepatic Encephalopathy: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Alimentary pharmacology & therapeutics·2026

Same journal

[Current State and Challenges of Digital Health in Japan].

No shinkei geka. Neurological surgery·2026

Same journal

[Emergent Surgery for Brain Tumors].

No shinkei geka. Neurological surgery·2026

Same journal

[Concepts of Cerebrospinal Fluid Management Based on a Paradigm Shift in CSF Dynamics:From the Third Circulation to the Glymphatic System and Meningeal Lymphatic Drainage].

No shinkei geka. Neurological surgery·2026

Same journal

[Management of Severe Traumatic Brain Injury].

No shinkei geka. Neurological surgery·2026

Same journal

[Management of Cerebral Vasospasm in Subarachnoid Hemorrhage].

No shinkei geka. Neurological surgery·2026

Same journal

[Perioperative Management of Spine and Spinal Cord Surgery].

No shinkei geka. Neurological surgery·2026

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 20, 2025

Role of Diffusion MRI Tractography in Endoscopic Endonasal Skull Base Surgery

Role of Diffusion MRI Tractography in Endoscopic Endonasal Skull Base Surgery

Published on: July 5, 2021

[Basic Concept of Skull Base Reconstructive Surgery].

Kentaro Tanaka¹, Mutsumi Okazaki

¹Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences(Medicine), Tokyo Medical and Dental University.

No Shinkei Geka. Neurological Surgery

|June 7, 2022

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Skull base reconstruction for cranial defects requires careful planning. Free tissue transfer is often necessary for complex anterior and middle cranial fossa defects, especially when surrounding tissue reconstruction is needed.

More Related Videos

Three-Dimensional Reconstruction of Orbital Fractures

Three-Dimensional Reconstruction of Orbital Fractures

Published on: May 16, 2025

Designing CAD/CAM Surgical Guides for Maxillary Reconstruction Using an In-house Approach

Designing CAD/CAM Surgical Guides for Maxillary Reconstruction Using an In-house Approach

Published on: August 24, 2018

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Sep 20, 2025

Role of Diffusion MRI Tractography in Endoscopic Endonasal Skull Base Surgery

Role of Diffusion MRI Tractography in Endoscopic Endonasal Skull Base Surgery

Published on: July 5, 2021

Three-Dimensional Reconstruction of Orbital Fractures

Three-Dimensional Reconstruction of Orbital Fractures

Published on: May 16, 2025

Designing CAD/CAM Surgical Guides for Maxillary Reconstruction Using an In-house Approach

Designing CAD/CAM Surgical Guides for Maxillary Reconstruction Using an In-house Approach

Published on: August 24, 2018

Area of Science:

Neurosurgery
Plastic Surgery
Otolaryngology

Background:

Anterior cranial fossa defects often connect the cranial and nasal cavities, necessitating skull base reconstruction for separation.
Middle cranial fossa defects may not involve nasal or oral cavity connections, requiring broader skull base reconstruction.
Reconstruction complexity increases with additional surgical goals beyond simple separation.

Purpose of the Study:

To differentiate surgical approaches for anterior versus middle cranial fossa defects.
To highlight the role of free tissue transfer in complex skull base reconstructions.
To inform surgical decision-making based on defect location and additional reconstructive needs.

Main Methods:

Review of surgical principles for anterior and middle cranial fossa defect reconstruction.
Analysis of indications for local flaps versus free tissue transfer.
Evaluation of factors influencing surgical strategy, including defect extent and functional/aesthetic goals.

Main Results:

Pedicled local flaps suffice for simple separation in anterior cranial fossa defects.
Free tissue transfer is frequently required for anterior defects with extensive surrounding tissue reconstruction needs.
Free tissue transfer is often indicated for middle cranial fossa defects with multiple reconstructive objectives, such as facial soft tissue or nerve reconstruction.

Conclusions:

Skull base reconstruction strategies vary significantly between anterior and middle cranial fossa defects.
The necessity of free tissue transfer is dictated by the extent of resection and the multiplicity of reconstructive aims.
Comprehensive evaluation of defect characteristics and surgical goals is crucial for selecting optimal reconstruction methods.