The skull is the bony structure that forms the head in vertebrates, including humans. It consists of two main parts: the neurocranium and the viscerocranium. The neurocranium protects the brain and is made up of bones such as the frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital bones. The viscerocranium, or facial skeleton, includes bones like the mandible, maxilla, zygomatic, and nasal bones, forming the facial structure and supporting the teeth.

In addition to protecting the brain, the skull serves as an attachment point for head and neck muscles and safeguards the sensory organs of vision, hearing, smell, and taste. The sutures, which are immovable joints between the skull bones, allow for growth during childhood. The complexity of the human skull reflects its evolutionary adaptations, from brain protection to facilitating fine motor skills and communication.