Human head
The upper part of the human body, containing the brain and major sensory and feeding structures. It joins the torso through the neck.
Skull: The bony framework of the head, protecting the brain and supporting the face. Its cranial and facial bones give the head its structure and protect its contents.
Visual system: The eye and neural pathways that detect light and support visual perception. The eyes gather light, and their signals are processed by the brain within the head.
Neurological examination: A clinical assessment of nervous-system function using tests of cognition, sensation, reflexes, and movement. Examiners assess the brain and cranial nerves through head and neck responses.
Primate skull: The skull of a primate, with anatomical features that vary across monkeys, apes, and humans. Human skull form is one specialized pattern within primate cranial diversity.
Brain: The central organ of the nervous system, integrating information and coordinating the body. It occupies the cranial cavity and directs perception, movement, and bodily functions.
Auditory system: The structures and neural pathways that detect sound and support hearing. The ears receive sound and transmit signals to the brain for interpretation.
Concussion: A traumatic brain injury that temporarily disrupts normal brain function, usually after a blow or jolt. Impacts to the head can cause this brain injury even without a skull fracture.
Neanderthal cranial anatomy: The skull and cranial features characteristic of Neanderthals, an extinct human group. Its distinctive cranial proportions offer a close comparison with modern human heads.
Face: The front of the head, shaped by facial bones and bearing the eyes, nose, and mouth. It is the head’s visible region for expression, sensory access, and interaction.
Olfaction: The sense of smell, produced when olfactory receptors detect airborne chemical molecules. Receptors high in the nasal cavity detect odors entering through the nose.