What it means
The skull has 22 bones. All of them are joined by joints that do not move, called sutures, except the lower jaw (mandibleMAN-dih-bulThe lower jawbone, the only bone of the skull that moves.Full entry ). A newborn's skull bones are not yet joined, which leaves soft spots (fontanels) that let the head mold during birth and the brain grow. The skull protects the brain, so bleeding or swelling inside it raises intracranial pressurein-truh-KRAY-nee-ul PRESH-erThe pressure inside the skull, made by the brain, the blood and the fluid around the brain.intra- insidecrani/o skull-al relating toFull entry .
For the nurse
After a head injury, check level of consciousness, pupils and movement, and look for clear fluid from the nose or ears or bruising behind the ears; report any change at once.
At a glance
| Spanish | cráneo |
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Related terms
intracranial pressure
The pressure inside the skull, made by the brain, the blood and the fluid around the brain.
cephal/o
A word part that means head.
mandible
The lower jawbone, the only bone of the skull that moves.
cranium
The part of the skull that encloses and protects the brain.