Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 14, 2026

Scanning Skeletal Remains for Bone Mineral Density in Forensic Contexts
07:56

Scanning Skeletal Remains for Bone Mineral Density in Forensic Contexts

Published on: January 29, 2018

Wormian bones in a general paediatric population

B Marti1, D Sirinelli, L Maurin

  • 1Paediatric Radiology Department, Clocheville University Hospital, 49 boulevard Béranger, Tours, France. bastienmarti17@gmail.com

Diagnostic and Interventional Imaging
|January 29, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Wormian bones are common in children, found in 53% of those under three. A significant number of children had multiple wormian bones, which does not necessarily indicate osteogenesis imperfecta.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Radiology
  • Craniometry
  • Skeletal Dysplasias

Background:

  • Wormian bones, or accessory ossicles, are common anatomical variations in the skull.
  • Their presence, especially in large numbers, can sometimes be misconstrued as a sign of underlying skeletal disorders like osteogenesis imperfecta.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence, quantity, and location of wormian bones in a healthy pediatric population.
  • To establish a baseline for normal variation in wormian bone occurrence.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of 605 CT brain scans from children aged 0–3 years.
  • Exclusion of scans from children with suspected bone diseases.
  • Data collection on the presence, number, and suture location of wormian bones.

Main Results:

  • Wormian bones were identified in 53% of the pediatric cohort.
  • 43% had 1–3 wormian bones, while 10% had four or more.
  • The lambdoid suture was the most frequent site for wormian bone occurrence, with no correlation to CT indications.

Conclusions:

  • Wormian bones are a frequent finding in young children.
  • The presence of multiple wormian bones (up to four or more) is not uncommon and does not automatically suggest osteogenesis imperfecta.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Systematic Assessment of Mammalian Skull Specimens for Dental and Temporomandibular Joint Pathology07:26

Systematic Assessment of Mammalian Skull Specimens for Dental and Temporomandibular Joint Pathology

Published on: August 22, 2022

Midface Hypoplasia and Cranial Base Morphology in Syndromic Craniosynostosis: A Comparative Analysis Study Using a Predictive Regression Model08:03

Midface Hypoplasia and Cranial Base Morphology in Syndromic Craniosynostosis: A Comparative Analysis Study Using a Predictive Regression Model

Published on: November 4, 2025

Related Concept Videos

Changes in the Appendicular Skeleton with Age01:09

Changes 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...
Classification of Bones01:18

Classification of Bones

The bones of the human skeletal system are of varied shapes, sizes, and functions. They can be classified based on their shape and function into four major classes: long bones, short bones, flat bones, and irregular bones. Some classifications include a fifth type, the sesamoid bones, as a separate class, whereas others categorize them under short bones.
Long and Short Bones
The appendicular skeleton, particularly the upper and lower limbs, is primarily made of long and short bones. The long...
Bone Formation by Intramembranous Ossification01:29

Bone Formation by Intramembranous Ossification

Intramembranous ossification is one of the two processes involved in the development of bones within an embryo. The flat bones of the face, most of the cranial bones, and the clavicles are formed via this process. During intramembranous ossification, the bones develop directly from sheets of undifferentiated mesenchymal connective tissue.
The process begins when mesenchymal cells in the embryonic skeleton gather together and differentiate into osteogenic cells, which then develop into...
Introduction to the Skeletal System01:20

Introduction to the Skeletal System

The skeletal system is the central framework of the body, consisting of different connective tissues: bones, cartilage, tendons, and ligaments.
Components of the Skeletal System
Bone, or osseous tissue, is a hard connective tissue that forms an internal support structure for the human body. Bones shield vulnerable organs and soft tissue from external forces. For example, the vertebral bones protect and support the spinal cord.
Cartilage, a semi-rigid connective tissue found in regions such as...
Compact Bone01:27

Compact Bone

Most bones contain compact and spongy osseous tissue, but their distribution and concentration vary based on the bone's overall function.
Compact bone, also called cortical bone, is the denser, stronger of the two types of bone tissue. It is found under the periosteum and in the diaphyses of long bones, where it provides support and protection. The microscopic structural unit of compact bone is called an osteon, or haversian system. Each osteon is composed of concentric rings of calcified...
Overview of the Axial Skeleton01:09

Overview of the Axial Skeleton

The skeleton is subdivided into two major divisions—the axial skeleton and the appendicular skeleton. The axial skeleton forms the vertical, central axis of the body. It includes all of the bones of the head, neck, chest, and back. It protects the brain, spinal cord, heart, and lungs. It also serves as the attachment site for muscles that move the head, neck, and back and for muscles that act across the shoulder and hip joints to move their corresponding limbs.
The axial skeleton of the adult...