Skull Anterior View Royalty-Free Stock Photo

A collection of 22 bones, the skull protects the all-important brain and supports the other soft tissues of the head. During fetal development, the bones of the skull form within tough, fibrous membranes in a fetus’ head. As these bones grow throughout fetal and childhood development, they begin to fuse together, forming a single skull. The only bone that remains separate from the rest of the skull is the mandible, or jaw bone.