The skull has 22 bones
The skull has 22 bones in all: 8 cranial bones that enclose the brain and 14 facial bones that frame the face. The cranial bones are the frontal (1), parietal (2), temporal (2), occipital (1), sphenoid (1) and ethmoid (1); the facial bones are two each of the maxilla, zygomatic, nasal, lacrimal, palatine and inferior nasal concha, plus one vomer and one mandible. Except for the mandible, the skull bones are locked together at sutures and do not move.
Frequently asked questions
Are the ear ossicles and the hyoid counted among the 22?
Usually not. The six ear ossicles (malleus, incus and stapes on each side) and the hyoid at the front of the neck are counted separately; with them, the head and neck hold 29 bones.
Which skull bone can move?
Only the mandible. It forms the jaw joints with the two temporal bones and opens and closes the mouth; the other skull bones are joined at sutures.
What is the difference between cranial and facial bones?
The 8 cranial bones form the rounded case around the brain. The 14 facial bones build the framework of the face: the eye sockets, the nasal cavity, the palate and the upper and lower jaws.
The bones counted
- Frontal bone
- Parietal bone
- Temporal bone
- Occipital bone
- Sphenoid bone
- Ethmoid
- Maxilla
- Mandible
- Zygomatic bone
Related counts
Other bone counts
- Bones of the spine
- Cervical vertebrae
- Thoracic vertebrae
- Lumbar vertebrae
- Number of ribs
- Bones of the arm
- Bones of the hand
- Carpal bones
- Bones of the leg
- Bones of the foot
- Tarsal bones
- Phalanges of the fingers and toes
- Bones of the pelvis
Skeleton
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- Why ageing bone marrow turns to fat, and a PEMF study in mice
- PEMF and whole-body vibration: two rhythms that reach the body
- Myokines: the signals working muscle sends to the body
- Ageing parents: the changes families notice first
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