Human skull, historical artwork. The skull is made up of many bones fused together along immovable joints called sutures (black lines). The bones of the cranium (top and back of skull) protect the brain. The eyes fit in two large cavities at the front of the skull, and the nose covers the nasal cavity between the eyes. The cheek bones below the eyes run back around the face towards the ear holes on each side of the skull. The large spaces each side of the eyes are where the soft tissue of the temple is found. The lower jaw bone (mandible) slots into these spaces and is attached at flexible joints, allowing it to move. The upper and lower jaw bones contain 32 permanent teeth.