Anatomy & Physiology: The Neurocranium and Concussions

Posted on 4/5/16 by Courtney Smith

Take your hand, make a fist, and tap your head. You know that you’re rapping your knuckles against your skull, but did you know that if your skull weren’t there your knuckles would most likely get stuck in brain matter? Yep. You’ve seen pictures of the human brain: a pinkish-gray structure that looks like the inside of a walnut. However, your brain isn’t thick or sturdy—it has the consistency of gelatin! This is why your skull is so important: it not only gives your head shape, but it protects your brain.

 

The Neurocranium

The 22 irregular bones that make up the human skull are divided into two groups: those that form the neurocranium, and those that form the facial skeleton. The neurocranium (braincase) is comprised of 8 bones, while the facial skeleton is made up of 14 bones. If you press down on any part of your face (with the exception of your lips), you will feel the bone that gives it shape. However, if you touch any part of the top, back, or sides of your head, you will feel the bone that protects that part of the brain.

For this particular topic, we’re going to be looking at the major components of the neurocranium and its roles as both a protector and villain to the brain. (We’ll save the facial skeleton for another day.)


The Calvaria

One of the biggest components of the neurocranium is the calvaria. The calvaria, or skull cap, is the upper part of the neurocranium and is comprised of 6 bones, all named for the lobes of the brain they protect—the frontal bone protects the frontal lobe, the occipital bone protects the occipital lobe, and so forth.

neurocranium-calvaria-2Image captured from Human Anatomy Atlas.

A quick break down of the calvaria:

Bones & Sutures

Role

Frontal
  • Gives shape to the forehead, orbits, and nasal cavity (not part of the facial skeleton, though!)
  • Articulates with 12 bones (10 from the facial skeleton)

Occipital
  • Gives shape to the back of the skull
  • Gives passage to the medulla oblongata
  • The foramen magnum is the large opening in the bone where the spinal cord and brain meet

Parietal (right and left)
  • Protect the parietal lobes
  • Come together to form the sagittal suture
  • Also form the coronal suture with the frontal bone

Temporal (right and left)
  • Protect the temporal lobes
  • Connect the structures of the inner and outer ears
  • Pointed styloid processes are the attachment sites for the muscles of the tongue and neck

Cranial sutures

Fibrous joints where bones meet, found only in the skull; there are 17 total


In addition to the calvaria, there are two more bones that enclose the brain in the skull. The sphenoid is the keystone bone at the base of the neurocranium. It’s a spectacularly shaped bone (it looks like a bat!) that, in addition to containing the sphenoidal sinuses (air cells), has a deep depression that holds the pituitary gland. The other bone is the ethmoid, a spongy, cubed bone that gives shape to part of the roof of the nose and the orbits. The ethmoid is also home to numerous foramina through which the branches of the olfactory nerves pass.

neurocranium-sphenoid-ethmoid-2 Image captured from Human Anatomy Atlas.


Concussion

Each bone is around 7 mm thick, and the brain is suspended in cerebrospinal fluid with three layers of meninges separating it from the bones. But any contact-sport player will tell you that sometimes those natural barriers don’t matter at all. The thing is, despite how well your body tries to protect the brain, the world has many dangers. Your brain is susceptible to all sorts of trauma, with concussion the most common.

But what is a concussion, exactly?

As I said above, the brain has the consistency of gelatin (or soft tofu), and sometimes when you take a knock to the head the brain’s vanguards aren’t enough to keep the brain from being damaged. The brain will bypass the cerebrospinal fluid and the meninges and drag over the hard inner surface of the neurocranium. This can result in damage and interference with normal brain function. Take a look at the video below (no audio).

 

 

Symptoms of concussion can include loss of consciousness, amnesia, lethargy, drowsiness or difficulty waking up, confusion, feeling “spacey,” nausea, and headache. Severe symptoms include convulsions/seizures, coma, abnormal eye movement or uneven pupils, problems with walking, and repeated vomiting. 

The scariest symptom can be no symptom at all. Sometimes the person who suffers a concussion has no idea as symptoms don’t present themselves, which can be incredibly dangerous. The most significant complications associated with concussion are brain swelling and increased intracranial pressure (ICP). This is why all head injuries need to be checked by a medical professional, even if you think you’re fine.*

So remember: when you play sports or are doing something that could result in a head injury, wear a helmet. The neurocranium can only do so much to protect the brain; we have to do our part too! 

(*Seriously, don’t try to walk it off. Err on the side of caution and get it checked out.)

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Additional Sources:

  • Heller, MDA, J. National Library of Medicine, (2012).Concussion (PMH0001802).

  • Mayo Clinic Staff. (2011). Concussion (DS00320). http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/concussion/DS00320

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