Suture (anatomy)

Suture (anatomy)

A suture in anatomy refers to a type of fibrous joint that is only found in the skull. These joints are bound together by Sharpey's fibers, a matrix of connective tissue consisting of strong collagenous fibers. Sutures are immovable (synarthroses) and are important for the protection of the brain and the shape of the face.

Types of Sutures

Sutures can be classified into several types based on their shape and the bones they connect:

• Coronal suture: This suture runs horizontally, connecting the frontal bone with the parietal bones.
• Sagittal suture: This suture runs along the midline of the skull, connecting the two parietal bones.
• Lambdoid suture: This suture connects the parietal bones with the occipital bone.
• Squamosal suture: This suture connects the parietal bone with the temporal bone.

Function

Sutures play a crucial role in the growth and development of the skull. During infancy and childhood, the sutures are flexible, allowing for the growth of the brain and skull. As a person ages, these sutures gradually ossify and become more rigid.

Clinical Significance

• Craniosynostosis: A condition where one or more of the cranial sutures fuse prematurely, leading to abnormal skull shape and potentially affecting brain development.
• Fontanelle: The soft spots on a baby's skull where the sutures intersect. These areas allow for the rapid growth of the brain during infancy.

Related Structures

• Fontanelle: The soft membranous gaps between the cranial bones in an infant's skull.
• Synostosis: The fusion of two bones, which can occur naturally or as a result of a pathological process.

See Also

• Joint
• Cranial bones
• Skull
• Craniosynostosis
• Fontanelle