Sutura Coronalis – Coronal Suture of the Skull
The sutura coronalis, or coronal suture, is a fibrous joint connecting the frontal bone to the two parietal bones of the skull. It plays a key role in skull development.
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The sutura coronalis, or coronal suture, is a fibrous joint connecting the frontal bone to the two parietal bones of the skull. It plays a key role in skull development.
What Is the Sutura Coronalis?
The sutura coronalis, commonly known as the coronal suture, is one of the major cranial sutures of the human skull. It runs transversely across the top of the skull, connecting the frontal bone (os frontale) to the two parietal bones (ossa parietalia). Its crown-like path across the skull gives it its name, derived from the Latin word corona, meaning crown.
Cranial sutures are fibrous joints between the bones of the skull. In infancy and childhood, they remain flexible to allow brain growth. Over time, these sutures gradually ossify (harden into bone).
Anatomy and Location
The coronal suture runs approximately perpendicular to the sagittal suture, forming a distinctive cross on the top of the skull. It extends from the temporal squama on one side to the opposite temporal squama and can be felt as a slight ridge or groove on the outside of the skull.
- Anterior endpoints: Connect with the sphenoid bone at the pterion on each side
- Course: Transverse across the skull vertex, slightly tilted posteriorly
- Underlying structures: The frontal lobe of the brain lies directly beneath the suture
Function of the Coronal Suture
During infancy and early childhood, the coronal suture allows the skull to expand in proportion to the rapidly growing brain. The suture remains open and pliable during this critical developmental period. As a person ages, it undergoes progressive ossification (synostosis), typically completing during early adulthood.
Clinical Relevance
Craniosynostosis
Premature fusion of the coronal suture is called craniosynostosis. When this occurs in infancy before the brain has reached its full size, it can restrict skull growth and, in severe cases, lead to increased intracranial pressure.
- Unilateral closure: Results in anterior plagiocephaly, where one side of the forehead appears flattened and asymmetrical
- Bilateral closure: Causes brachycephaly, characterized by a shortened, wide skull with a prominent forehead
Diagnosis of Craniosynostosis
Diagnosis is typically established through physical examination and imaging studies, including skull X-rays or computed tomography (CT) scans. Early diagnosis is essential to allow timely intervention and prevent complications.
Treatment
Craniosynostosis involving the coronal suture usually requires surgical treatment. The goal is to remove the prematurely fused bone and create sufficient space for brain growth. Surgery is generally performed within the first year of life by a specialized team of neurosurgeons and craniofacial surgeons.
Relevance in Forensic Medicine and Anthropology
In forensic medicine and physical anthropology, the degree of ossification of the coronal suture is used as a marker for estimating the age of skeletal remains. The extent of synostosis correlates with a person's biological age at the time of death.
References
- Sadler, T.W. - Langman's Medical Embryology, 14th edition, Wolters Kluwer (2018)
- Mathijssen, I.M.J. - Guideline for Care of Patients With the Diagnoses of Craniosynostosis. In: Journal of Craniofacial Surgery, 26(6):1735-1807 (2015)
- Moore, K.L. & Dalley, A.F. - Clinically Oriented Anatomy, 8th edition, Wolters Kluwer (2017)
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