skull anatomy

Question 1

name the 8 skull landmarks

Answer 1

1. vertex
2. lambda
3. asterion
4. inion
5. bregma
6. pterion
7. nasion
8. mentum

Question 2

vertex

Answer 2

superior point of skull in midline with skull orientation in Frankfort horizontal plane

Question 3

lambda

Answer 3

meeting-point of lambdoidal & sagittal sutures.

Question 4

asterion

Answer 4

star-shaped, at junction of lambdoid & squamous sutures.

Question 5

inion

Answer 5

Most prominent point of external occipital protuberance (occiput).

Question 6

bregma

Answer 6

meeting-point of coronal & sagittal sutures

Question 7

pterion

Answer 7

junction of greater wing of sphenoid, squamous part of temporal, frontal & parietal

Question 8

nasion

Answer 8

where frontonasal & internasal sutures meet

Question 9

mentum

Answer 9

chin

Question 10

fxn of sutures

Answer 10

1. provide movement to the skull

2. anchor the skull bones (attached but mobile)

Question 11

At birth, there is considerable distance between skull plates, where the sutures are widest, and these are called ?

Answer 11

fontanelles (soft spots)

Question 12

fontanelles

Answer 12

At birth, there is considerable distance between skull plates, where the sutures are widest, and these are called

Question 13

2 fxns of fontanelles

Answer 13

1. so that the skull can expand with the brain as it grows
2. to handle compression/ decompression at birth – forces of the maternal pelvis, vaginal walls, and the forces of labour

Question 14

metopic suture

Answer 14

in centre of frontal bone (not common)

Question 15

coronal suture

Answer 15

where parietal & frontal bones meet

Question 16

sagittal suture

Answer 16

join the parietal bones

Question 17

lambdoidal suture

Answer 17

between the parietals and the occipital

Question 18

squamous suture

Answer 18

between parietals and temporal bone

Question 19

fronto-zygomatic suture

Answer 19

between frontal and zygomatic bones

Question 20

spheno-frontal suture

Answer 20

between sphenoid and frontal bones

Question 21

spheno-squamous suture

Answer 21

between parietals & temporal bone

Question 22

spheno-zygomatic suture

Answer 22

between sphenoid and zygomatic bones

Question 23

occipito-mastoid suture

Answer 23

between occipital and mastoid process

Question 24

parietomastoidal suture

Answer 24

between parietals & mastoid

Question 25

temporo-zygomatic suture

Answer 25

between temporal and zygomatic bones

Question 26

3 types of fontanelles

Answer 26

1. anterior
2. posterior
3. temporal/squamous
   - mastoid
   - sphenoid

Question 27

anterior fontanelle

Answer 27

at junction of coronal, sagittal & metopic sutures (close=18months)

Question 28

posterior fontanelle

Answer 28

at junction of sagittal & lambdoidal sutures (close=2months)

Question 29

temporal fontanelle

Answer 29

at junction of squamous &

• lambdoidal sutures (mastoid fontanelle)
• coronal suture (sphenoid fontanelle)

Question 30

craniostenosis

Answer 30

if certain nones of the skull grow too fast, premature closure of sutures may occur and result in skull deformaties

Question 31

if certain nones of the skull grow too fast, premature closure of sutures may occur and result in skull deformaties

Answer 31

craniostenosis

Question 32

plagiocephaly

Answer 32

if the lambdoid suture closes too soon the skull appears twisted and asymmetrical

Question 33

if the lambdoid suture closes too soon the skull appears twisted and asymmetrical

Answer 33

plagiocephaly