What is the term for the thick skin covering the cranium that usually bears hair?

The term that refers to the thick skin covering the cranium and is typically associated with hair growth is the scalp. The scalp consists of several layers of tissue, including skin, connective tissue, and muscle, which protect the skull and support hair follicles. It plays a crucial role in safeguarding the underlying structures of the head.

The other options describe different components or procedures unrelated to the specific area of the scalp. The dermis is a layer of skin below the epidermis that contains connective tissue, hair follicles, and glands, but it does not refer to the outer layer where hair grows directly. Epithelium is a type of tissue that forms the outer layer of organs and structures, but it does not specifically denote the skin covering the head. A craniotomy is a surgical procedure involving an incision into the skull, which is not relevant in the context of describing the skin covering the cranium.