Dermatocranium

{{Short description|Portion of the cranium that is composed of dermal bone}}

The dermatocranium is the portion of the cranium that is composed of dermal bone, as opposed to the endocranium and splanchnocranium, which are composed of endochondral bone. The dermatocranium comprises the skull roof, the facial skeleton (usually excluding the dentary), and—in fishes—the opercular bones.{{cite book |last1=Kent |first1=George C.|last2=Carr |first2=Robert K.|year=2001|title=Comparative Anatomy of the Vertebrates|edition=9th |location=New York, NY |publisher=McGraw-Hill |isbn= 0-07-303869-5}}