The Skull and the Cervical Vertebrae

The skeleton of the head is the skull, which may be regarded as a number of bony cavities associated with the nervous system and the beginnings of the respiratory and alimentary systems. The largest of these is the cranial cavity, which contains the brain and the beginnings or ends of the cranial nerves. The nasal cavity is associated with respiration and smell and the oral cavity with taste, sucking, chewing, swallowing and respiration. Both cavities are involved in speech. The orbit contains the eyeball and all its associated structures. Cavities in the temporal bone contain the organs associated with balance and hearing. Many of the bones of the skull have cavities the functions of which in man are somewhat obscure.