Excluding the hyoid and the bones of the middle ear, the skull consists of 

• A

  14 bones - 8 cranial bones and 6 facial bones

• B

  22 bones - 14 cranial bones and 8 facial bones

• C

  26 bones - 8 cranial bones, 12 facial bones 

• D

  22 bones - 8 cranial bones and 14 facial bones