HeadShape.Info

Definitions & Concepts Related to Cranial Morphology

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Please submit suggestions to Kevin M. Kelly, PhD.

Anterior fontanelle:

Anterolateral fontanelles:

Coronal suture(s): separates the frontal bone from the bilateral parietal bones

Cranial Index:

cranial index = (maximum cranial breadth / maximum cranial length) X 100

The ratio of these measure can be used to classify head shape as:

dolichocephaly (aka, scaphocephaly):	a cranial index less than 76
mesocephaly:	a cranial index between 76 and 80.9
brachycephaly:	a cranial index 81 and over

It is important to remember that variation in the length and breath of the cranium is normal.

Cranium: The nine (9) bones that make up the cranium are: the frontal bone (1), the paired parietal bones (2), the paired temporal bones (2), the paired ethmoid bone (1), the paired sphenoid bone (2) and the occipital bone (1).

Dolichocephaly:

Ethmoid bone:

Fontanelles: soft spots

Frontal bone(s): comprises the forehead and the upper orbits of the eyes The frontal bone contains two air spaces called sinuses. The frontal bone is fused with the parietal bones (coronal suture), the sphenoid bones, maxilla and nasal bones.

Lambdoid suture(s): separates the parietal bones and the occipital bone; it arches across the back of the skull ending bilateral where the parietal and occipital bones meets the temporal bone.

Metopic suture:

Occipital bone: the bone that forms the back of the skull.

Parietal bone(s): the two parietal bones form the largest portion of the top and sides of the cranium. The parietal bones meet and fuse in the middle and top of the skull (sagittal suture). Anteriorly the parietal bones meet the frontal bone at the coronal suture. Posteriorly (back of the head), the frontal bones meet and fuse with the occipital bone at the lamboid suture. Laterally, each frontal bone meets and fuses with the superior edge of the temporal bone. In addition to these bones, the parietal bones also fuse to the sphenoid bones.

Posterolateral fontanelles:

Sagittal suture: separates the right and left parietal bones; anteriorly it begins at coronal suture and continues posteriorly where it ends at the lambdoid suture

Sphenoid bone(s):

Soft spot:

Squamosal suture(s): separates the squamous (the flat wing-like upper section) portion of the temporal bones from the parietals.

Suture ridges:

Sutures:

Temporal bone(s): these bones form the lower, central sides of the skull.

Torticollis: