The correct answer is 8.
The human cranium is made up of 8 bones:
- Frontal bone
- Parietal bones (2)
- Temporal bones (2)
- Occipital bone
- Sphenoid bone
- Ethmoid bone
The frontal bone forms the forehead and the anterior part of the roof of the skull. The parietal bones form the sides and top of the skull. The temporal bones form the sides and base of the skull, and contain the middle and inner ear structures. The occipital bone forms the back of the skull. The sphenoid bone forms the middle part of the skull, and houses the pituitary gland. The ethmoid bone forms the roof of the nasal cavity and the partition between the nasal cavity and the brain.
The bones of the cranium are joined together by sutures, which are immovable joints. The sutures allow the skull to grow during childhood, and they also help to absorb shock.
The cranium protects the brain from injury. It is a strong, bony structure that is well-protected by the muscles and tissues of the face and neck.