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Illustration of a human skull showing both lateral (side) and frontal views, with major bones of the cranium and face labeled in different colors, including the parietal, frontal, temporal, occipital, sphenoid, ethmoid, nasal, lacrimal, zygomatic, maxilla, mandible, vomer, and inferior nasal concha. Illustration of the human head and neck skeletal system in profile, showing labeled bones and structures such as the skull, mandible, hyoid bone, cervical vertebrae, and first rib, along with key ligaments and cartilage. cutaneous nerves of the head and neck
Quick Facts
Key People:
Ernst von Bergmann
Related Topics:
human ear
mouth
jaw
nose
skull
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Human skull
Human skull (Left) Lateral and (right) frontal views of the human skull.

head

anatomy
Also known as: cephalon
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History

head, in human anatomy, the upper portion of the body, consisting of the skull with its coverings and contents, including the lower jaw. It is attached to the spinal column by way of the first cervical vertebra, the atlas, and connected with the trunk of the body by the muscles, blood vessels, and nerves that constitute the neck. The term also is used to describe the anterior or fore part of animals other than humans.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Michael Ray.