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Related Concept Videos

Cranial Bones: Superior and Posterior View01:14

Cranial 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,...
Overview of the Skull01:08

Overview of the Skull

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...
Sutures of the Skull01:22

Sutures 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...
Cranial Bones: Lateral View01:27

Cranial 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...
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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 13, 2026

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

Published on: November 4, 2025

New Insights Into Cranial Base Ontogeny in Modern Humans Through Morphometric Analysis.

Amaëlle Sourbé1, Mathilde Savignat2, Frédéric Santos1

  • 1Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, MCC, PACEA, UMR 5199, Pessac, France.

American Journal of Biological Anthropology
|June 12, 2026
PubMed
Summary

Cranial base growth shows rapid early development and slower adolescent growth, with shape changes reflecting coordinated brain and facial development. This biphasic growth pattern is crucial for understanding craniofacial morphogenesis.

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Three-Dimensional Cephalometric Landmark Annotation Demonstration on Human Cone Beam Computed Tomography Scans

Published on: September 8, 2023

Area of Science:

  • Developmental biology
  • Craniofacial anatomy
  • Morphometrics

Background:

  • The cranial base is a critical interface for craniofacial, neurodevelopmental, and locomotor functions.
  • Understanding cranial base growth is essential for elucidating complex developmental processes.
  • The three cranial fossae (anterior, middle, posterior) have distinct developmental trajectories.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the developmental trajectories of the anterior, middle, and posterior cranial fossae.
  • To examine changes in size and shape of the cranial fossae from birth to adolescence.
  • To investigate the patterns of cranial base growth and shape variation during ontogeny.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of 203 CT scans from individuals aged 0-15 years.
  • Application of traditional morphometrics for linear measurements (length, width).
  • Utilized geometric morphometrics with 32 landmarks and semi-landmarks for shape analysis.

Main Results:

  • Cranial base growth exhibits a rapid phase (0-2 years) followed by slower adolescent growth.
  • Transverse dimensions mature earlier than anteroposterior lengths; posterior fossae show significant expansion.
  • Shape analysis reveals coordinated changes, including petrous bone reorientation and sphenoid wing curvature, with moderate sexual dimorphism.

Conclusions:

  • The cranial base demonstrates biphasic growth with early integrated shape changes and later modularization.
  • These developmental patterns are linked to coordinated cranial and brain development.
  • Provides a reference for comparative studies and highlights the significance of cranial base development in morphogenesis.