## Core Concept
The human skull is composed of bones that fuse together during development. It is broadly classified into two main categories: the **cranium** (or neurocranium) which encloses the brain, and the **viscerocranium** (or facial skeleton) which forms the structure of the face.

## Why the Correct Answer is Right
The adult human skull is made up of **22 bones**. These include 8 bones of the cranium (frontal, 2 parietals, 2 temporals, occipital, sphenoid, and ethmoid) and 14 bones of the viscerocranium (mandible, 2 maxillae, 2 zygomatics, 2 nasals, 2 lacrimals, 2 palatines, 2 inferior nasal conchae, and vomer). Understanding the composition of the skull is essential for clinical correlations, especially in the fields of neurosurgery, otolaryngology, and maxillofacial surgery.

## Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect
- **Option A:** This option is incorrect because it undercounts the total number of bones in the adult human skull.
- **Option B:** This option might seem plausible but still does not accurately reflect the total count of bones in the skull.
- **Option D:** This option overcounts the total number of bones, which is not accurate.

## Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact
A key point to remember is that in children, the skull bones are not fused together, which allows for the bones to overlap during birth, making delivery easier. The bones fuse together as the child grows, typically closing by the age of 2 years. This is a critical concept in pediatrics and neurosurgery.

## Correct Answer: C. 22