skull

the part of the SKELETON that forms the head and encloses the BRAIN . It is made up of 22 BONES , forming the CRANIUM (eight bones) and 14 in the FACE , and all except the mandible (lower JAW ) are fused along SUTURES , creating immovable JOINTS . The mandible articulates close to the ears. A large opening at the base of the skull ( FORAMEN magnum) allows the SPINAL CORD to pass from the brain to the trunk of the body.