cranial

American  

[krey-nee-uhl] / ˈkreɪ ni əl /

adjective

1. of or relating to the cranium or skull.

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cranial British  

/ ˈkreɪnɪəl /

adjective

1. of or relating to the skull

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cranial Scientific  

/ krā′nē-əl /

1. Located in or involving the skull or cranium.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• precranial
  adjective
• subcranially
  adverb
• intercranial
  adjective
• subcranial
  adjective
• cranially
  adverb
• precranially
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of cranial

First recorded in 1790–1800; crani(um) + -al ¹

Explanation

Something that's cranial has to do with your skull. A severe cranial injury requires testing to make sure you don't have a concussion. Your cranium is your skull — the hard bone that encloses and protects your brain. Things that are cranial are connected to this part of your body — the cranial space is the area inside your skull, and cranial nerves are connected to your brain. The Greek root of both cranium and cranial is kranion, "skull" or "upper part of the head."