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Sutures of the Skull

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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.
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Overview of the Skull

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The cranium (skull) is the skeletal structure of the head that supports the face and protects the brain. It is subdivided into the facial bones and the brain case, or cranial vault. The facial bones underlie the facial structures, form the nasal cavity, enclose the eyeballs, and support the teeth of the upper and lower jaws.
The cranial vault surrounds and protects the brain and houses the middle and inner ear structures. This cavity is bounded superiorly by the rounded top of the skull, which...

Bone Formation by Intramembranous Ossification

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.
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Cranial Bones: Superior and Posterior View

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Cranial Bones: Lateral View

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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...

Overview of the Axial Skeleton

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The axial skeleton of the...

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Analysis of Craniomaxillofacial Malformations in Mice Using Three-dimensional Microcomputed Tomography

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Skull developmental modularity: a view from a single bone - or two.

Charles B Kimmel¹

¹Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, Eugene OR, USA.

Zeitschrift Fur Angewandte Ichthyologie = Journal of Applied Ichthyology

|October 9, 2014

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Recent studies link teleost skull bone development and evolution. Developmental modularity influences evolvability by creating labile skull regions, potentially biasing evolution positively, differing from earlier constraint-based views.

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Area of Science:

Evolutionary developmental biology
Comparative osteology
Genetics

Background:

Developmental processes shape phenotypes, influencing evolutionary trajectories.
Skull bone development in teleosts exhibits modularity.
Understanding modularity's role in evolution is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

To review recent studies connecting teleost skull bone development and evolution.
To examine approaches for identifying developmental modules.
To assess the impact of developmental modularity on evolutionary change.

Main Methods:

Review of recent scientific literature.
Examination of cellular, molecular genetic, and multivariate statistical approaches.
Analysis of evidence linking developmental modularity to evolutionary lability.

Main Results:

Developmental modularity partitions complex skull morphology.
Developmental modules provide evolutionarily labile regions within the teleost skull.
Developmental modularity may positively bias evolutionary change.

Conclusions:

Developmental modularity influences teleost skull evolution.
Modularity offers a framework for understanding evolutionary potential.
This contrasts with earlier views of developmental constraint negatively impacting evolution.