Cranial cavity

The cranial cavity, or intracranial space, is the space formed inside the skull. It is part of the dorsal body cavity. The brain occupies the cranial cavity, which is lined by the meninges and which contains cerebrospinal fluid to cushion blows.

Eight fused cranial bones together form the cranial cavity: the frontal, occipital, sphenoid and ethmoid bones, and two each of the parietal and temporal bones.

The capacity of an adult human cranial cavity is 1,200-1,700 cm³.