skull

noun

The cartilages and bones associated with the brain, sense organs (smell, sight, hearing), mouth, jaws and gills, collectively the syncranium. The parts associated with protection and support for the brain and sense organs are called the neurocranium and dermocranium and the parts supporting the anterior digestive system and the respiratory apparatus are called the splanchnocranium or viscerocranium. Cartilage elements in the skull are called the chondrocranium and bony elements the osteocranium.