Cranial Growth and Ageing

Question 1

when does the occipital bone fuse

Answer 1

by school age

Question 2

what is the spheno-occipital synchondrosis?

Answer 2

the cartilaginous union between sphenoid and occipital bone at base of skull

Question 3

when does the spheno-occipital synchondrosis close?

Answer 3

16-25

Question 4

when does the anterior fontanelle close?

Answer 4

by age 2 years

Question 5

when does the posterior fontanelle close?

Answer 5

by 2 months

Question 6

what is the metopic suture?

Answer 6

connective tissue structure which separates the two halves of the frontal bone of the skull

Question 7

when does the metopic suture fuse and then disappear?

Answer 7

fuses at 9 months then disappears around 6 years

Question 8

what is the mastoid process

Answer 8

conical prominence projecting from the undersurface of the mastoid portion of the temporal bone

Question 9

when is the mastoid process distinct?

Answer 9

2 years old

Question 10

what is the mental symphysis?

Answer 10

unfused centre of mandible

Question 11

when does the mental symphysis fuse?

Answer 11

by 7-8months

Question 12

what happens to the angle of the mandible with age?

Answer 12

starts to become less obtuse (flatter)