HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Sabini, R. C. Articles by Elkowitz, D. E. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Sabini, R. C. Articles by Elkowitz, D. E.

From the Departments of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (Dr Sabini) and Pathology (Dr Elkowitz) at the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine of New York Institute of Technology in Old Westbury.

E-mail: rosanna.sabini{at}gmail.com

Objective: To evaluate the gross external characteristics of the coronal, lambdoid, and sagittal sutures in human cadaver skulls and determine if a difference exists in terms of patency, sex, and age.

Methods: The coronal, lambdoid, and sagittal sutures were described using a modified grading scale to quantify sutural patency. An open suture was graded as 0, a fused suture as 1, and an obliterated suture as 2, 3, or 4, depending on the extent of obliteration.

Results: Thirty-six skulls were examined, including 17 female and 19 male (age range, 56–101 y). When compared with the sagittal suture, the lambdoid suture was significantly more likely to be patent and least likely to be obliterated. No significant difference in suture grades was found between female and male skulls, and no significant difference was found between age and suture grade.

Conclusion: The prolonged patency of the lambdoid suture may be due to external forces, such as the greater number of muscles affecting the lambdoid suture when compared with the sagittal suture.