US Medical Term · anatomy
Skull
Cráneo
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Skull |
| Spanish (Español) | Cráneo |
| Chinese (中文) | 頭骨 |
| Korean (한국어) | 두개골 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Hộp sọ |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Bungo |
| Portuguese (Português) | Crânio |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | กะโหลกศีรษะ |
| Japanese (日本語) | 頭蓋骨 |
What it means
The skull is the hard, bony shell that surrounds and protects your brain. It is made up of several flat bones that fuse together during childhood. The skull also forms the structure of your face and holds your eyes, nose, and jaw in place. At its base, it connects to the top of your spine, allowing your head to turn and tilt. Doctors examine the skull using X-rays or CT scans after head injuries, falls, or accidents. A fracture means one of these bones has cracked. During brain surgeries, part of the skull may be temporarily removed and later replaced.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
My doctor told me I have a hairline fracture in my skull.
Mi doctor me dijo que tengo una fractura fina en el cráneo.
The CT scan showed swelling near the base of my skull.
La tomografía mostró inflamación cerca de la base del cráneo.
Will the crack in my skull heal on its own?
¿La fractura en mi cráneo se curará sola?
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026