Cranial sutures

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For the surgical technique, see suture.

Cranial sutures are the joints between the bones of the skull (or "cranium"), bound together by Sharpey's fibres. A tiny amount of movement is permitted at sutures, which contributes to the compliance and elasticity of the skull.

It is normal for many of the bones of the skull to remain unfused at birth. The term "fontanelle" is used to describe the resulting "soft spots". The relative positions of the bones continue to change during the life of the adult (though less rapidly), which can provide useful information in forensics and archaeology. In old age, cranial sutures may ossify (turn to bone) completely.^{[verification needed]}

Contents 1 List of sutures 1.1 Primarily visible from the side (norma lateralis) 1.2 Primarily visible from front (norma frontalis) or above (norma verticalis) 1.3 Primarily visible from below (norma basalis) or inside 2 External links

[edit] List of sutures

Most sutures are named for the bones they articulate, but some have special names of their own.

[edit] Primarily visible from the side (norma lateralis)

• Coronal suture - between the frontal and parietal bones
• Lambdoid suture - between the parietal bones and the occipital bone
• Occipitomastoid suture
• Parietomastoid suture
• Sphenofrontal suture
• Sphenoparietal suture
• Sphenosquamosal suture
• Sphenozygomatic suture
• Squamosal suture - between the parietal and the temporal bone
• Zygomaticotemporal suture
• Zygomaticofrontal suture

[edit] Primarily visible from front (norma frontalis) or above (norma verticalis)

• Frontal suture / Metopic suture - between the two frontal bones, prior to the fusion of the two into a single bone
• Sagittal suture - along the midline, between parietal bones

[edit] Primarily visible from below (norma basalis) or inside

• Frontoethmoidal suture
• Petrosquamous suture
• Sphenoethmoidal suture
• Sphenopetrosal suture

[edit] External links

• MedlinePlus Encyclopedia 002320
• Age at Death Estimation from Cranial Suture Closures

v • d • e Bones of head and neck: cranial sutures, fontanelles, and related regions

cranial sutures: Coronal - Lambdoid - Occipitomastoid - Sphenofrontal - Sphenoparietal - Sphenosquamosal - Sphenozygomatic -Squamosal - Zygomaticotemporal - Zygomaticofrontal - Frontal/Metopic - Sagittal - Frontoethmoidal - Petrosquamous - Sphenoethmoidal - Sphenopetrosal fontanelles: Anterior fontanelle - Posterior fontanelle foramina of multiple bones: Inferior orbital fissure - Foramen lacerum - Jugular foramen - Nasolacrimal canal Anterior cranial fossa - Middle cranial fossa - Posterior cranial fossa - Cranial cavity other compound structures: Asterion - Nasion - Pterion - Dacryon - Zygomatic arch - Calvaria - Infratemporal fossa - Stephanion - Pterygomaxillary fissure - Pterygopalatine fossa