Milady Anatomy Practice Test 2026 - Free Anatomy Practice Questions and Study Guide

The type of bone that forms the sides and crown of the cranium is known as cranial bone. Cranial bones are vital components of the skull that protect the brain and form the structural framework for the head. Specifically, the parietal bones, which are part of the cranial bones, create a significant portion of the sides and the roof or crown of the cranial cavity.

Partial bones, on the other hand, typically refer to skeletal elements that are not commonly categorized as major bones in the context of the cranium, which is why they don't accurately describe the bones associated with the sides and crown of the cranium.

Skeletal bone is a general term that could refer to any bone in the body, but it lacks specificity regarding which bones constitute the cranium. Similarly, facial bones are distinct from cranial bones; they primarily form the front structure of the face and do not contribute to the sides or crown of the cranium.

Thus, cranial bone is the precise term that identifies the relevant bones forming the sides and crown of the skull.