cranial Definition
- 1relating to the skull or cranium
- 2relating to the brain
Using cranial: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "cranial" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The cranial nerves are responsible for many functions of the head and neck.
Example
The cranial bones protect the brain from injury.
Example
The cranial cavity houses the brain.
cranial Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for cranial
- cerebral
- encephalic
- skull
Phrases with cranial
cranial nerve
a nerve that emerges directly from the brain, rather than from the spinal cord, and is responsible for sensory and motor functions of the head and neck
Example
The cranial nerves are numbered and named according to their function.
the volume of the interior of the skull, used as a measure of the size of the brain
Example
The cranial capacity of Homo sapiens is larger than that of any other living primate.
Example
The patient was admitted to the hospital with severe cranial trauma after a car accident.
Origins of cranial
from Latin 'cranium', meaning 'skull'
Summary: cranial in Brief
The term 'cranial' [ˈkreɪniəl] refers to the skull or cranium, and also to the brain. It is used in medical contexts to describe the nerves, bones, and cavities of the head and neck, such as 'The cranial nerves are responsible for many functions of the head and neck.' 'Cranial' can also be used to describe the size of the brain, as in 'cranial capacity,' or injuries to the skull or brain, as in 'cranial trauma.'