Why these three bones matter in cranial assessment.
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Of the eight bones forming the cranial vault, three get particular attention in cranial work: the occiput, the temporal bones, and the sphenoid. Their location and connections make them especially relevant to a cranial exam.
The occiput
The occipital bone forms the back and base of the skull and surrounds the foramen magnum — the opening through which the spinal cord passes into the skull to connect with the brainstem. It articulates directly with the first cervical vertebra, making it a key structural link between the cranium and the spine.
The temporal bones
The paired temporal bones sit at the sides and base of the skull. They house the structures of the ear, form part of the jaw joint (the temporomandibular joint), and have several sutures connecting them to neighboring bones. Because of the jaw joint connection, the temporal bones are often relevant to TMJ-related evaluations.
The sphenoid
The sphenoid is a butterfly-shaped bone at the base of the skull that connects, directly or indirectly, to nearly every other cranial bone. Because of this central position, many cranial practitioners — myself included — consider the sphenoid a particularly important reference point during assessment.
These three bones are emphasized because of their anatomical connections, not because they’re inherently more “important” than the rest of the skull. A thorough cranial evaluation considers the whole system.
Related reading
See cranial bones anatomy, or read about the relationship between the cranium, face and jaw.