Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 18, 2026
08:03
Midface Hypoplasia and Cranial Base Morphology in Syndromic Craniosynostosis: A Comparative Analysis Study Using a Predictive Regression Model
Published on: November 4, 2025
Quantification of cranial base growth during pubertal growth
Luciana Abrão Malta1, Cristina F Ortolani, Kurt Faltin
1Department of Orthodontics School of Dentistry University Paulista, UNIP, Sao Paulo, Brazil. lucianabrao@yahoo.com.br
Journal of Orthodontics
|November 26, 2009
Summary
Cranial base growth significantly increases during puberty, with no observed gender differences in this longitudinal cephalometric study using the cervical vertebral maturation (CVM) method. All linear variables showed statistically significant increases.
Area of Science:
- Orthodontics and Dental Anthropology
- Human Growth and Development
- Cephalometric Analysis
Background:
- Understanding cranial base development is crucial for diagnosing and treating dentofacial abnormalities.
- Longitudinal studies are essential for tracking growth patterns from prepubertal to postpubertal stages.
- The cervical vertebral maturation (CVM) method provides a reliable indicator of skeletal maturity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify longitudinal cranial base growth using the CVM method.
- To analyze growth patterns from prepubertal through postpubertal stages.
- To investigate potential sexual dimorphism in cranial base growth.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal cephalometric study involving 36 subjects (21 females, 15 males) with normal growth patterns.
- Cervical vertebral maturation (CVM) stages assessed independently by two examiners.
- Cranial base measurements analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA and Tukey post hoc tests.
Main Results:
- Significant increases observed in all cephalometric measures between developmental stages (P<0.05).
- The Ba-Na measurement showed the greatest overall growth (mean change=2.8 mm).
- No significant gender differences were found in cranial base growth patterns.
Conclusions:
- Linear variables of the cranial base exhibit significant growth during pubertal stages (pre-peak, peak, post-peak).
- Cranial base growth occurs consistently throughout puberty, exceeding 2.0 mm during this period.
- This study found no evidence of sexual dimorphism in cranial base linear growth.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Signs of Puberty
Puberty is a critical phase, typically beginning between the ages of 8 and 13 in girls and 9 and 14 in boys, though timing can vary based on genetics, environmental factors, and overall health. This period is characterized by the development of secondary sexual characteristics and the attainment of reproductive potential. Endocrine changes underpin puberty, with hormonal surges of Luteinizing Hormone (LH) and Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) instigated by Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH)...
01:27Cranial Bones: Lateral View
The lateral view of the cranium is dominated by temporal, sphenoid, and ethmoid bones.
The temporal bone forms the lower lateral side of the skull. The temporal bone is subdivided into several regions. The flattened upper portion is the squamous portion of the temporal bone. Below this area and projecting anteriorly is the zygomatic process of the temporal bone, which forms the posterior portion of the zygomatic arch. Posteriorly is the mastoid portion of the temporal bone. Projecting...
The temporal bone forms the lower lateral side of the skull. The temporal bone is subdivided into several regions. The flattened upper portion is the squamous portion of the temporal bone. Below this area and projecting anteriorly is the zygomatic process of the temporal bone, which forms the posterior portion of the zygomatic arch. Posteriorly is the mastoid portion of the temporal bone. Projecting...
01:27Growth of Cartilage and Bone Tissue
Chondrocytes form a temporary cartilaginous model by dividing and secreting a thick gel-like extracellular matrix. Once the chondrocytes undergo programmed cell death, osteoblasts enter the site of the cartilaginous model. The process of replacing the temporary cartilaginous model with bone in an ordered manner is called endochondral ossification. In endochondral ossification, not all of the cartilage is replaced by bone tissue. Some cartilage that performs a protective and supportive function...
01:22Sutures of the Skull
The human skull is composed of several bones that come together to protect the brain and support the structures of the face. The junctions where these bones meet are called sutures.
Sutures are immobile joints between adjacent bones of the skull. The narrow gap between the bones is filled with dense, fibrous connective tissue that unites the bones. The long sutures located between the skull bones are not straight but instead follow irregular, tightly twisting paths. These twisting lines tightly...
Sutures are immobile joints between adjacent bones of the skull. The narrow gap between the bones is filled with dense, fibrous connective tissue that unites the bones. The long sutures located between the skull bones are not straight but instead follow irregular, tightly twisting paths. These twisting lines tightly...
01:14Cranial Bones: Superior and Posterior View
The superior view of the cranium shows the frontal and paired parietal bones.
The frontal bone is the single bone that forms the forehead. At its anterior midline, between the eyebrows, there is a slight depression called the glabella. The frontal bone also forms the supraorbital margin of the orbit. Near the middle of this margin is the supraorbital foramen, the opening that provides passage for a sensory nerve to the forehead. The frontal bone is thickened just above each supraorbital margin,...
The frontal bone is the single bone that forms the forehead. At its anterior midline, between the eyebrows, there is a slight depression called the glabella. The frontal bone also forms the supraorbital margin of the orbit. Near the middle of this margin is the supraorbital foramen, the opening that provides passage for a sensory nerve to the forehead. The frontal bone is thickened just above each supraorbital margin,...
01:09Changes in the Appendicular Skeleton with Age
The upper and lower limb initially develops as a small bulge called a limb bud, which appears on the lateral side of the early embryo. The upper limb bud appears near the end of the fourth week of development, with the lower limb bud appearing shortly after.
Initially, the limb buds consist of a core of mesenchyme covered by a layer of ectoderm. The ectoderm at the end of the limb bud thickens to form a narrow crest called the apical ectodermal ridge. This ridge stimulates the underlying...
Initially, the limb buds consist of a core of mesenchyme covered by a layer of ectoderm. The ectoderm at the end of the limb bud thickens to form a narrow crest called the apical ectodermal ridge. This ridge stimulates the underlying...