Cranial Growth and Ageing Flashcards
WHAT IS A SYNCHONDROSIS
a primary cartilaginous joint - mainly in developing skeleton
WHICH SYNCHONDROSIS IS BETWEEN THE OCCIPITAL AND SPHENOID BONES
speno-occipital synchondrosis
WHAT AGE DOES THE SPHENO-OCCIPITAL SYNCHONDROSIS CLOSE
16-25 years old
WHAT IS OSSIFICATION
laying down new bone material
WHAT IS AN OSSIFICATION CENTRE
point where ossification of cartilage begins / bone growth begins
HOW MANY OSSIFICATION CENTRES DOES THE OCCIPITAL BONE HAVE
6 : 1 bassioccipital 2 exoccipital 1supraoccipital 2 interparietal
WHAT AGE IS THE OCCIPITAL BONE OSSIFIED BY
school age
5-6
WHAT IS A FONTANELLE
a space between the bones of the skull in infants where ossification isn’t complete and the sutures are not fully formed
membrous areas
soft spots
WHY DO WE NEED FONTANELLES
to allow room for movement and growth of the skull
because the head needs to contain the brain but also fit through the pelvis during birth
HOW MANY FONTANELLES ON THE DEVELOPING SKULL
6
WHAT ARE THE FONTANELLES
posterior
anterior
mastoid - 2
sphenoidal - 2
WHEN DOES THE ANTERIOR FONTANELLE CLOSE
2 years old
WHEN DOES THE POSTERIOR FONTANELLE CLOSE
1-3months old
WHEN DO THE MASTIOD FONTANELLES CLOSE
6-18 months
WHEN DO THE SPHENOIDAL FONTALLES CLOSE
6 months
WHAT ARE THE THINGS TO LOOK FOR WHEN TELLING THE AGE OF THE SKULL
angle of mandible mental symphyis tympanic ring / plate metopic suture on frontal bone mastoid process distinct / indistinct anterior and post fontanelles open / closed
IS THE ANGLE OF THE MANDIBLE MORE OBTUSE IN
A CHILD OR ADULT
child
WHAT AGE DOES THE MENTAL SYMPHIS FUSE CLOSED
7-8 months
before age 1
WHEN DOES THE MASTIOD PROCESS BECOME DISTINCT
2 years old
WHERE IS THE MASTOID PROCESS LOCATED
behind the external auditus meatus (the tympanic ring/plate)
a conical prominence projecting from the undersurface of the mastoid portion of the temporal bone
WHY DOES THE SIZE OF THE FACIAL SKELETON CATCH UP TO THE BIGGER NEUROCRANIUM AFTER BIRTH
as the brain development is most important before birth but head still needs to fit through the pelvis
the skull aka teeth aren’t required immediately for feeding too
WHY DOES THE MANDIBLE GET LESS OBTUSE
forward and downward growth of the mandible
