Cranial Suture Joints in Sheep Ovis aries (Najdi breed): Anatomical and Radiographic Findings

This study aimed to describe the anatomical and morphological features of cranial suture joints in sixteen sheep skulls and to compare these findings with those reported in other domesticated species. The study of cranial sutures extends beyond morphology to elucidate mechanisms of skull growth, as suture patterns function as regulatory units in cranial development, highlighting the important roles in comparative and evolutionary studies, age estimation, and fracture identification, and serving as reference points in veterinary surgery and radiography. A detailed anatomical examination of sheep skulls was performed to identify and classify cranial sutures based on their morphology and anatomical location. Sutures were categorized according to their structural patterns and regional distribution within the cranium. Twenty-eight cranial sutures were identified and classified into four morphological types: serrated, plane, squamosal and foliate. These sutures were distributed across the dorsal, ventral, lateral-vertical, and internal cranial regions, reflecting the complex organization of cranial bones, indicating intraspecies diversity influenced by species-specific cranial architecture and developmental factors. The absence of certain sutures, such as the sagittal suture in sheep, was found. This study provides a detailed anatomical reference for cranial sutures in sheep. In sheep, suture morphology is closely related to the skull's adaptation to mechanical stresses during growth, including forces generated by fighting and self-defense behaviors and high chewing mechanics. The findings offer valuable baseline data for veterinary clinicians and anatomists in distinguishing normal anatomical patterns from congenital cranial abnormalities.