How Many Movable Bones Does The Skull Have

Introdution

The skull is made up of 22 bones, which are all fixed in place except for the mandible or lower jaw bone. This bone is the only movable bone in the skull and is responsible for opening and closing the mouth. The other bones in the skull are connected by sutures, which are rigid and immovable connections. The brain is enclosed in the cranium, which is made up of cranial bones, while the facial bones make up the rest of the skull. The sphenoid bone, ethmoid bone, and upper conchae all contribute to the cranial cavity's floor in different ways. The frontal, parietal, and temporal bones are connected by different sutures.

Main Content

The 22 bones that make up the human cranium are largely connected by ossified joints like sutures. The braincase needs to be well-protected and well-cared-for. The visceral skull, also known as the viscerocranium, separates the facial skeleton from the braincase neurocranium. Its main purpose is to safeguard the brain, the body's most significant and critical organ.

The base of the skull, which is where all the blood arteries and cranial vessels enter and exit the skull, needs to be taken care of since the neurocranium almost completely encloses the brain. All the face structures are supported by the skull.

The word "mandible" is derived from the Latin word "mandibula," which literally translates to "one used for chewing." The mandible or the movable joint of the skull joins with the temporal bone, a branch of the cranial nerves, to produce the temporomandibular joint.

The skull is made up of two different types of bones: the cranial bones, which are only capable of protecting the brain and the eyes (one of the organs that give our lives colour and enable us to see things), and the facial skeletal bones, which make up the face. There are 8 of them and 14 of them, respectively.

There are 8 types of cranial bones we do have –

• Ethmoid

• Frontal

• Occipital

• Parietal

• Sphenoid

• Temporal

There are 14 facial skeletal bones that we do have-

• Inferior Nasal concha

• Lacrimal

• Mandible

• Maxilla

• Nasal

• Platine

• Vomer

• Zygomatic

This brings the total number of bones to 22. Even though there are other bones, such as the auditory ossicles (bones in the ears), these are also included, bringing the total number of bones to 28.

The six auditory ossicles present in human beings are-

• Incus

• Malleus

• Stapes

Some of the major functions of the skeletal system are described as-

• Support

• Protection

• Movement

• Storage

• Regulation of endocrine glands

Conclusion

Since the brain is the most fragile organ in the body, the skull is a crucial bone. mostly consists of bones with thin walls, some of which include air-filled spaces. From a structural standpoint, it offers a foundation for the arduous and musculoskeletal attachments of the scalp and facial muscles. The protective chamber for the brain is formed by this bony structure, which also supports the face. Face and scalp muscles work together. The common carotid artery serves as the primary source of oxygenated blood for the skull and its contents. Numerous foramina at the base of the skull allow many arteries and nerves to enter.