Sunday, February 12, 2017
The human skull
The human
skull is the hard structure of the head of a human. It consists of two main parts, the cranium and the mandible.
The cranium is the top part and is semi-spherical like a dome, while the
mandible, the lower part, is angular like the wheelbarrow. The skull is a labyrinth-like shell, consisting
of various pieces of bones joined together, having cavities and holes within. It is the foundation on which the various
sensing, thinking and working faculties of the human being are housed and protected.
The cranium
encases the brain and its three cavities at the front house the two eyes and
the nose below them, while two other cavities, one on each side, house the two ears.
Below the cavity housing the nose the upper set of teeth is embedded underneath in an arch
shape. The mandible, the smaller part of the skull, also called the jawbone, has a matching lower set of teeth embedded on its top in a similar arch shape. The
mandible fits the cranium at two joints at the underside of the cranium, as
like a hinge, and the two sets of teeth fit a match. This enables the jawbone to move up and down with the joints as hinges.
The human
skull is the headquarters where the thinking, the seeing, the smelling, the
hearing, the eating and the talking capabilities of a person are gathered,
connected and protected; these would be jelly-like otherwise. A layer of skin
and a crown of hair complete the head, presenting the image of a fine specimen
of the human race.
The human
skull keeps all the various organs in position in the head and protects them
while they function, including the flow of blood and nerves. Its shape
personifies the person, its features present its image, its crowning glory enhances
the face of fortune, the image of idols. To some it appears grotesque, to others
it is an object of wonder, to yet others it is a collector’s item. The famous
saying beauty is skin deep is truly in the eyes of the beholder.
