cranium
cranium
Noun
pl: crania
This term is primarily used in medical, anatomical, and paleontological contexts to describe the bony structure of the head. It carries a clinical tone, distinguishing the hard protective shell from the soft tissue of the brain it houses. In a biological sense, the word can refer specifically to the neurocranium, which protects the brain, or more broadly to the entire skull including the facial skeleton and mandible.