How many bones are typically in the adult human skull?

The adult human skull typically consists of 22 bones. This structure can be categorized into two main groups: the cranial bones and the facial bones. The cranial bones, which protect the brain, include eight bones: the frontal, parietal (two), temporal (two), occipital, sphenoid, and ethmoid. The facial bones consist of 14 bones, including the nasal (two), maxilla (two), zygomatic (two), palatine (two), lacrimal (two), nasal concha (two), vomer, and mandible.

Understanding how these bones contribute to the overall structure of the skull is essential for comprehending its role in protecting the brain and providing the framework for the face. While some might think additional bones exist due to variations like accessory bones or sutural bones, these do not typically alter the standard count in an adult skull.