Pronunciation: [kɹˈani͡əm] (IPA) 
The word "cranium" is spelled "KREY-nee-uhm" in IPA phonetic transcription. The first syllable "KREY" is pronounced with a long "e" sound followed by a short "a" sound, similar to the word "gray". The second syllable "nee" is pronounced with a long "e" sound, like "bee". The final syllable "uhm" is pronounced with a short "u" sound and an "m" sound, like "bum". The word refers to the part of the skull that protects the brain.
The cranium is a noun that refers to the superior part of the skull, enclosing and protecting the brain. It is an essential component of the human skeletal system, providing structural support and safeguarding the vital organ responsible for thought, perception, and coordination. Comprising eight bones in total, the cranium is formed through the fusion of these individual bones, including the frontal, parietal, occipital, temporal, sphenoid, and ethmoid bones.
The cranium plays a crucial role in the overall functioning of the body. Its primary function is to provide a sturdy protective housing for the brain, shielding it from potential injuries and external forces. Additionally, the cranium anchors the facial structure, providing stable attachment points for muscles involved in various crucial functions such as chewing and facial expressions. Apart from protection, the cranium also promotes sensory perception by enclosing and supporting the structures of the special senses, including the eyes, ears, and nasal passages.
The cranium is a distinctive feature that varies across species, allowing scientists to examine and compare skull structures between different animals. Its shape, size, and specific features can provide valuable insights into an individual's ancestry, evolutionary development, and potential health conditions or abnormalities. Moreover, craniometry, a study that focuses on the measurement of skull dimensions, has been applied in various scientific fields, including anthropology, archaeology, and forensic science, to explore human history, migration patterns, and identify individual remains.
Skull, the bones of the head collectively; in a more limited sense, the brain-pan, the bony case containing the brain, excluding the bones of the face.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The skull.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "cranium" comes from the Greek word "kranion", which was derived from the Proto-Indo-European root "*sker-" or "*ker-" meaning "to cut" or "to separate". This root also gave rise to Latin words such as "cernere" meaning "to sift" or "to perceive", which is related to the act of using one's head or brain. The term "cranium" refers to the part of the skull that encloses and protects the brain.
