Bones of the cranium meet at unique joints called sutures or markings. Sutures allow a close fit between bones but also allow bones to grow as the body grows. Foramen are openings in the skull that allow nerves, arteries, veins, and other structures to pass through.
Nasal cavities, oral cavities, orbital cavities, paranasal cavities, and middle-ear cavities in the skull envelop and protect the brain and sensory organs, as well as function to resonate sound during speech and reduce the skull's weight.
The human face includes 14 bones that link with the cranial bones and form facial structures. These structures create facial shape; hold the teeth, eyes, and ear ossicles in place; form the nasal cavity; and make up the palate.