The bones that protect the brain are collectively called the neurocranium.
The neurocranium is the upper and back part of the skull, which houses and protects the brain. The entire skull, or cranium, is composed of 22 bones, which are divided into two main parts: the neurocranium and the viscerocranium.
The neurocranium comprises eight bones that directly surround the brain:
- Frontal bone: Forms the forehead and the upper part of the eye sockets.
- Parietal bones (2): Form the sides and roof of the skull.
- Temporal bones (2): Form the sides of the skull, around the ears.
- Occipital bone: Forms the back of the skull and the base of the cranium.
- Sphenoid bone: A complex, butterfly-shaped bone located at the base of the skull, behind the eyes.
- Ethmoid bone: A small, square bone located at the roof of the nose, between the eye sockets.
Therefore, while there isn't one single "brain bone," the neurocranium is the collective term for the bones that serve to protect the brain.
