Skull bones and cranial sutures

This overview addresses skull bones and cranial sutures with particular emphasis on the complex anatomy and key divisions of the human skull, including the neurocranium and viscerocranium and their functions. We will discuss the role of cranial sutures and fontanelles in skull development and the clinical implications of their abnormal fusion or delayed closure. Additionally, we will review important bony landmarks on the external skull relevant for clinical practice and surgery. Finally, we will explore how the skull's design reflects evolutionary adaptations for brain protection, sensory functions and growth. The human skull is a complex bony structure, essential for protecting the brain and supporting the facial skeleton. It has two main divisions, the neurocranium, which encases the brain and the viscerocranium, which forms the facial skeleton. Key neurocranial bones include the frontal, parietal, occipital and temporal bones. These bones, connected by specialized joints, shield the brain and support sensory organs, while anchoring muscles for chewing, facial expression, and head movement. The skull bones are joined by immobile fibrous joints called sutures, visible on both dry skulls and living heads. These include the coronal suture separating the frontal and parietal bones, the sagittal between the parietal bones, the lambdoid, at the parietal occipital junction, and the squamous linking temporal and parietal bones. Landmark points such as bregma and lambda, serve as key orientation reference points on the skull,