Difference Wiki

Skull vs. Cranium

The main difference between the Skull and the Cranium is that Skull is made up of both facial bones and the cranium, whereas Cranium is a part of the skull that covers the brain.

Key Differences

The main function of the brain is protection, attachment of the muscles of face and determination of the facial features, while, the most important function of the cranium is the protection of the brain, the cerebral vasculature, and the meninges.
Harlon Moss
Sep 04, 2019
Skull is a framework of bones that enfolds the head of a vertebrate, whereas, the cranium is a portion of the skull that holds the brain.
Skull is made up of both facial bones and the cranium; on the other hand, cranium is made up of the bones that do not move and is the upper part of the skull.
Skull has smaller sinuses and the cranial cavity, on the other hand, cranium creates the cranial cavity wherein the brain is situated.
Harlon Moss
Sep 04, 2019
Skull is made up of 22 bones, on the flip side, the cranium is made up of 8 bones.
The only bone of the skull which can move is Mandible. All the other bones of the skull are immobile; on the other side, all the bones of the cranium are immobile.
Harlon Moss
Sep 04, 2019
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Comparison Chart

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Skull is a framework of bones that enfolds the head of a vertebrate.
Cranium is a portion of the skull that enfolds the brain.

Composition

Skull is made up of both facial bones and the cranium.
Cranium is made up of the bones that do not move and is the upper part of the skull.

No of Bones

Skull is made up of 22 bones.
Cranium is made up of 8 bones.

Movement

The only bone of the skull which can move is Mandible.
All the bones of the cranium are immobile.
Harlon Moss
Sep 04, 2019

Function

The main function of the brain is protection, attachment of the muscles of the face, and determination of the facial features.
The most important function of the cranium is the protection of the brain, the cerebral vasculature, and the meninges.

Cavities

Skull has smaller sinuses and the cranial cavity.
Cranium creates the cranial cavity wherein the brain is situated.
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Skull and Cranium Definitions

Skull

The bony or cartilaginous framework that encloses and protects the brain and sense organs of all vertebrates and of one group of nonvertebrates (the hagfishes); cranium.

Cranium

The skull.

Skull

(Informal)The head, regarded as the seat of thought or intelligence
Use your skull and solve the problem.

Cranium

The portion of the skull enclosing the brain; the braincase.

Skull

A death's-head.

Cranium

(skeleton) That part of the skull consisting of the bones enclosing the brain, but not including the bones of the face or jaw.
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Skull

(anatomy) The main bones of the head considered as a unit; including the cranium, facial bones, and mandible.

Cranium

The upper portion of the skull, including the neurocranium and facial bones, but not including the jawbone (mandible).

Skull

These bones as a symbol for death; death's-head.

Cranium

(informal) skull.

Skull

(figuratively) The mind or brain.

Cranium

The skull of an animal; especially, that part of the skull, either cartilaginous or bony, which immediately incloses the brain; the brain case or brainpan. See Skull.

Skull

A crust formed on the ladle, etc. by the partial cooling of molten metal.

Cranium

The part of the skull that encloses the brain

Skull

The crown of the headpiece in armour.

Skull

(Scotland) A shallow bow-handled basket.

Skull

Obsolete form of school

Skull

To hit in the head with a fist, a weapon, or a thrown object.

Skull

To strike the top of (the ball).

Skull

A school, company, or shoal.
A knavish skull of boys and girls did pelt at him.
These fishes enter in great flotes and skulls.

Skull

The skeleton of the head of a vertebrate animal, including the brain case, or cranium, and the bones and cartilages of the face and mouth. See Illusts. of Carnivora, of Facial angles under Facial, and of Skeleton, in Appendix.

Skull

The head or brain; the seat of intelligence; mind.
Skulls that can not teach, and will not learn.

Skull

A covering for the head; a skullcap.
Let me put on my skull first.

Skull

A sort of oar. See Scull.

Skull

The bony skeleton of the head of vertebrates

Skull vs. Cranium

Skull and cranium are the two terms which are used to describe the skeletal structures of the head. The chief function of them is that they protect the brain and all the other internal structures which are present in the head. Skull is the protective structure of the bones which hosts the brain and supports the face, whereas, the cranium is a part of the skull and is also called as neurocranium. It covers and protects the brain along with the cerebral vasculature and the meninges. The human skull is a complex structure, and it consists of 22 bones which chiefly comprises of facial bones (14) and cranial bones (8), while, the cranium is a subdivision of the skull that comprises of 8 bones, which enfold the brain. These eight bones are frontal, occipital, parietal (2), ethmoid, sphenoid, and temporal (2). The frontal bone and the parietal bones are the largest among these bones. Skull is composed of numerous bones, made up through the intramembranous ossification and are joined together by the fibrous joints which are called sutures. These joints are immovable. At the age of 20, they completely fused together. Face and cranium and are the two central parts of the skull. Cranium, on the other hand, also has two central parts; which are the cranial base and the roof or the calvarium.

What is Skull?

Skull is a framework of bones that holds the head of a vertebrate. The position of the skull is on the atlas of the vertebral column. It is made up of both facial bones and the cranium. The face is made up of 14 bones, and there are 8 bones which make the cranium. Furthermore, the hyoid bones and the ossicles of the ear are also thought as the bones of the skull. Therefore, the total number of bones in the skull becomes 29. Viscerocranium is suggested as another name for the facial skeleton. The site for the attachment of muscles of the face is offered by viscerocranium (the facial skeleton), and it also determines the facial features. Facial bones also make passages to the digestive and the respiratory systems. The most important cavity of the skull that holds the brain is called the cranium cavity. The other numerous cavities which are found within the skull are called the sinuses that accommodate the equilibrium structures and the hearing. The great architectural strategy of the skull reveals itself in many functions. The most important of them is that it protects the most important organ of our nervous system; the brain. Also, the skull is involved in breathing, vision, speech, and hearing.

What is Cranium?

Cranium is a portion of the skull that holds the brain. It is also called as the neurocranium. It has a function of protecting the brain along with the cerebral vasculature and the meninges. Besides, the skull is involved in providing a surface for the attachment of muscles that helps in the movement of the head, and it also supports the sense organs that are located in the head. The walls of cranial are made up of two plates. The edge of every bone is joined with a next to the bone edge with the help of fibrous interlocking joints, which are called ‘sutures.’ The sutures are distinctive to the cranial bones. The two central parts of the cranium are the cranial base and the roof or the calvarium. Calvarium is made up of the occipital, frontal and two parietal bones. The cranial base is made up of six bones, i.e., frontal, ethmoid, occipital, sphenoid, parietal, and the temporal bones. The cranial base offers the articulation point for the atlas.

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