Concept in Definition ABC

The Skull is the bone structure of the head, it is made up of a series of bones that are arranged acquiring the shape of a vault in its upper and posterior part, in front of them another group of bones is arranged in the form of a massif that give shape to the expensive.

The cranial vault is made up of a total of 8 bones that have the function of housing the upper part of the Central Nervous System also known as the encephalon, which is made up of the cerebrum, cerebellum, and brainstem. These bones present a series of holes and notches that allow the exit of the skull of the nerves that originate in this part of the nervous systemThey are twelve in total and emerge bilaterally, which is why they are called cranial nerves. Likewise, these ducts allow the arteries to enter the skull, such is the case of the carotid artery. internal and vertebral arteries, as well as the outlet veins, such as the jugular vein and vertebral veins basilar.

In the lower part of its posterior end is the foramen magnum, where it communicates with the spinal cord, this orifice also allows continuous drainage of the cerebrospinal fluid that circulates around the brain and spinal cord spinal.

The skull has an important protective function of the brain, in the case of the brain and the brain stem this Protection is crucial for subsistence since the regulatory centers of functions are located in both structures. as the conscience, the breathing, cardiac activity, blood pressure, and blood pressure regulation temperature, which are critical life functions.

From birth to the first years of the childhood the bones of the skull are joined by a soft tissue, known as cartilage, which allows them to grow at the same rate as it makes the brain, these unions are six in total, however only two are more evident and are located in the upper part of the skull, where give rise to two openings known as fontanelles, in adolescence the joints between the bones are consolidated and the skull acquires its maximum endurance.

The rigid union of the bones of the skull, although it allows to protect the nervous system, is also a factor against it since against infections, trauma or accidents of the brain or meninges in which inflammation or hemorrhage occurs, the skull is an element that prevents an increase in the volume tissue or blood pooling. These phenomena increase the pressure within the skull which leads the lower part of the cerebellum to descend through the foramen magnum which compresses the centers that control respiration at the level of the brainstem producing immediate death, this phenomenon is called "interlocking" and occurs in severe cases of meningitis, brain strokes or hemorrhages, strokes, abscess-like infections of the nervous system and in some cases tumors intracranial.