The human skull is made of 22 bones: 8 cranial bones that form the brain box (cranium) and 14 facial bones. These flat bones join by immovable fibrous joints called sutures. Memory hook: "8 + 14 = 22, and the skull sits on the neck using TWO condyles" — so the human skull is dicondylic, not monocondylic. This "two condyle" point is a favourite NEET trap.
The human skull has 22 bones (8 cranial + 14 facial) joined by immovable fibrous sutures; its occipital bone carries two condyles that rest on the atlas vertebra, making the skull dicondylic.
Your doubts, answered
Is the human skull monocondylic or dicondylic? (Very important NEET trap)
The human skull is DICONDYLIC. It has TWO occipital condyles on the occipital bone that rest on the first neck vertebra (atlas). Monocondylic (one condyle) is true for birds and reptiles, not for mammals. If a NEET statement says 'human skull is monocondylic', it is WRONG. NEET 2026 tested this exact line.
How many bones make up the human skull?
22 bones in total. This splits into 8 cranial bones (which form the cranium, the box that holds the brain) and 14 facial bones (which form the face and jaws). Some books count the hyoid and ear ossicles separately, but the core NEET number is 22 skull bones.
What kind of joint holds the skull bones together?
Fibrous joints called sutures. The flat cranial bones fuse end-to-end using dense fibrous connective tissue. These joints allow NO movement, which is why the brain box is fixed and protective. NEET matches 'flat skull bones' with 'fibrous joints' repeatedly.
Which skull bone connects to the vertebral column?
The occipital bone. It sits at the back and base of the skull and carries the two occipital condyles. These condyles articulate with the atlas (first cervical vertebra), forming the atlanto-occipital joint. This is how your head nods on the neck.
What is the difference between 'skull' and 'cranium'?
The cranium is only the brain box made of the 8 cranial bones. The skull is the whole thing: cranium (8) PLUS the 14 facial bones. So cranium is a part of the skull, not the same as the skull.
⚠️ The NEET trap ✗ Human skull is monocondylic (has one occipital condyle). ✓ Human skull is DICONDYLIC — it has TWO occipital condyles that articulate with the atlas vertebra. 🧠 NEET loves to swap 'di' for 'mono'. Mammals (including humans) = TWO condyles. Reptiles/birds = one. If you see 'human skull is monocondylic', mark it FALSE.
Real NEET questions
NEET 2026
Which of the following statements are correct with reference to human endoskeleton?
A. Human skull is monocondylic.
B. The joint between any two adjoining vertebrae is a cartilaginous joint.
C. In human beings, the number of cervical vertebrae is seven.
D. All ribs except the last 2 pairs are bicephalic.
E. The occipital bone of skull is articulated with atlas vertebra.
A · B and E only
B · B, C and E only ✓
C · C, D and E only
D · A, B and D only
Solution: A is WRONG: the human skull is dicondylic (two occipital condyles), not monocondylic. B is correct: adjacent vertebrae are joined by a cartilaginous joint. C is correct: there are 7 cervical vertebrae. D is WRONG: ALL ribs are bicephalic (two articulation heads), not all except the last 2. E is correct: the occipital bone articulates with the atlas vertebra. So the answer is B, C and E only.
NEET 2021
Match List I with List II.
List I: (a) Scapula (b) Cranium (c) Sternum (d) Vertebral column
List II: (i) Cartilaginous joints (ii) Flat bones (iii) Fibrous joints (iv) Triangular flat bone
A · (a)-(iv); (b)-(ii); (c)-(iii); (d)-(i)
B · (a)-(iv); (b)-(iii); (c)-(ii); (d)-(i) ✓
C · (a)-(i); (b)-(iii); (c)-(ii); (d)-(iv)
D · (a)-(ii); (b)-(iii); (c)-(iv); (d)-(i)
Solution: Scapula is a triangular flat bone (a-iv). The cranium is formed by flat skull bones joined by fibrous sutures, i.e. fibrous joints (b-iii). The sternum is a flat bone (c-ii). Adjacent vertebrae are joined by cartilaginous joints (d-i). Correct match: (a)-(iv); (b)-(iii); (c)-(ii); (d)-(i).
Solved Locomotion and Movement NEET PYQs
Try the real previous-year questions from this chapter — each with the answer and a full solution.
