cranium

noun

1. That part of the skull consisting of the bones enclosing the brain, but not including the bones of the face or jaw.

   “The Skull is divided into two parts, the Cranium and the Face. The Cranium is composed of eight bones; […]”

   “‘I always ask leave, in the interests of science, to measure the crania of those going out there,’ he said.”

   “The cranium of the fowl is composed of the same elements as are present in the mammalian cranium, save that there is no interparietal.”

   “The cranial bones, or cranium (kra′ne-um), enclose and protect the fragile brain and furnish attachment sites for head and neck muscles.”

   “"The cranium is clearly plesiomorphic in overall form, presenting primitive traits shared by earlier hominins," the authors wrote.”

2. (informal)The upper portion of the skull, including the neurocranium and facial bones, but not including the jawbone (mandible).

   “In this study, the cranium recovered from the River Witham in Lincoln exhibited a black metallic staining on the surfaces of the teeth.”

3. (informal)Synonym of skull.