Skull

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) dictionary says the skull is made up of cranial bones, which surround and protect the brain, and facial bones, which form the eye sockets, nose, cheeks, jaw, and other parts of the face. MedlinePlus explains that an infant's skull is made up of 6 separate cranial (skull) bones: the frontal bone, the occipital bone, two parietal bones and two temporal bones. These bones are held together by strong, fibrous, elastic tissues called sutures. The spaces between the bones that remain open in babies and young children are called fontanelles, sometimes called soft spots.

MedlinePlus defines a skull fracture as a fracture or break in the skull (cranial) bones and says skull fractures may occur with head injuries. A linear skull fracture is a break in a cranial bone resembling a thin line. A depressed skull fracture is a break in a cranial bone with depression of the bone in toward the brain. A simple fracture is a break in the bone without damage to the skin, and a compound fracture involves a break in, or loss of, skin and splintering of the bone. MedlinePlus lists basilar skull fracture among the alternative names. Its first aid steps for a suspected skull fracture include having someone call 911 or the local emergency number; emergency signs need urgent care (call 911 in the U.S.).

Cráneo is the term used by both MedlinePlus en español and the National Cancer Institute's Spanish dictionary. It is masculine: el cráneo. The NCI dictionary adds that it is also called calavera. The adjective is craneal: both sources write huesos craneales for the cranial bones, and MedlinePlus en español writes traumatismo craneal where the English page says head trauma. The NCI dictionary uses base del cráneo for the base of the skull and médula espinal for the spinal cord.

A skull fracture is fractura de cráneo. MedlinePlus en español names the types fractura lineal del cráneo (linear) and fractura con hundimiento en el cráneo (depressed), and lists fractura basal del cráneo among the alternative names. In the same article it writes lesiones en la cabeza for head injuries and uses the word concusión where the English page says concussion. Its first aid steps say llame al 911 o al número local de emergencias.