cranial

[ krey-nee-uhl ]

adjective

1. of or relating to the cranium or skull.

cranial

/ ˈkreɪnɪəl /

adjective

1. of or relating to the skull

cranial

/ krā′nē-əl /

1. Located in or involving the skull or cranium.

Derived Forms

• ˈcranially, adverb

Other Words From

• crani·al·ly adverb
• inter·crani·al adjective
• pre·crani·al adjective
• pre·crani·al·ly adverb
• sub·crani·al adjective
• sub·crani·al·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of cranial¹

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

Example Sentences

Scientists have wondered for years why, despite being so similar, neural crest cells in the cranial region of the embryo can form bone and cartilage, while those in the trunk region can’t form either.

From Science News

When we arrived, Geneviève Pothier-Bouchard, an anthropologist from the University of Montreal had exposed parts of an infant cranial vault and articulated lines of pierced shell beads.

From Nautilus

Remains of skulls can help us figure out the likely cranial capacity of extinct species.

From Ars Technica

RAS standardizes surgical workflows, “democratizing excellence in these procedures and allowing more and more surgeons to do them,” explains David Simon, Medtronic’s vice president of research and development for cranial and spine technology.

From MIT Technology Review

Doctors have said Miss Yousafzai is due to be readmitted in the coming weeks for reconstructive cranial surgery.

From The Daily Beast

The cranial capacity was apparently about one thousand, that of man being from thirteen hundred to fourteen hundred.

From Project Gutenberg

Yet its cranial capacity is far above that of the highest apes, and is assimilated with that of Hottentot and Polynesian skulls.

From Project Gutenberg

The head, though large in proportion to the body, is really very small and of low cranial capacity.

From Project Gutenberg

His cranial sutures close, the growth of the brain is arrested, and the development of his mind comes to an end.

From Project Gutenberg

The connection, then, between the cranial deformity and some underlying nervous disturbance might be assumed.

From Project Gutenberg