Incidence of metopic suture in adult human crania in Uttar Pradesh

Abstract

Introduction: Failure of ossification in the vertical direction between the two halves of the frontal bone is called a metopic suture; this suture is present in between the superciliary arch and tubers of the frontal bone so it is also called a median frontal suture. At birth, the frontal bone present is two half, in the 1st year they contact each other, and within the 7th to 8th year, they fused together. Sometimes, bones may not be fused completely and it becomes metopic fontanelle. Materials and Methods: The goal of the current study was to determine the prevalence of metopic suture in adult human skulls in Uttar Pradesh. One hundred and fifty macerated skulls of undetermined age and sex were used for this. The anatomical departments of Teerthankar Mahaveer Medical College and Research Center (Moradabad), King George Medical College (Lucknow), SRMS Institute of Medical Science (Bareilly), Govt. Medical College Kannauj, and Govt. Medical College Saharanpur provided these skulls. Results: This study has found the incidence of metopic sutures of about 12.90%. The two types of metopic sutures were found in this study, namely complete metopic suture 4.52% and incomplete metopic suture 8.38% in which found 0.64% "V" shape metopic suture. Conclusion: The morphological study of metopic sutures on adult crania is useful for anatomists, experts in forensic medicine, and neurologists for performing surgical procedures in this area.

Keywords

• anterior cranial fosse
• frontal bone
• metopic suture
• metopism
• plagiocephaly
• scaphocephaly
• stenocrotaphia
• suture