Cranial Growth and Ageing

Question 1

WHAT IS A SYNCHONDROSIS

Answer 1

a primary cartilaginous joint - mainly in developing skeleton

Question 2

WHICH SYNCHONDROSIS IS BETWEEN THE OCCIPITAL AND SPHENOID BONES

Answer 2

speno-occipital synchondrosis

Question 3

WHAT AGE DOES THE SPHENO-OCCIPITAL SYNCHONDROSIS CLOSE

Answer 3

16-25 years old

Question 4

WHAT IS OSSIFICATION

Answer 4

laying down new bone material

Question 5

WHAT IS AN OSSIFICATION CENTRE

Answer 5

point where ossification of cartilage begins / bone growth begins

Question 6

HOW MANY OSSIFICATION CENTRES DOES THE OCCIPITAL BONE HAVE

Answer 6

6 :
1 bassioccipital
2 exoccipital
1supraoccipital
2 interparietal

Question 7

WHAT AGE IS THE OCCIPITAL BONE OSSIFIED BY

Answer 7

school age

5-6

Question 8

WHAT IS A FONTANELLE

Answer 8

a space between the bones of the skull in infants where ossification isn’t complete and the sutures are not fully formed
membrous areas
soft spots

Question 9

WHY DO WE NEED FONTANELLES

Answer 9

to allow room for movement and growth of the skull

because the head needs to contain the brain but also fit through the pelvis during birth

Question 10

HOW MANY FONTANELLES ON THE DEVELOPING SKULL

Answer 10

6

Question 11

WHAT ARE THE FONTANELLES

Answer 11

posterior
anterior
mastoid - 2
sphenoidal - 2

Question 12

WHEN DOES THE ANTERIOR FONTANELLE CLOSE

Answer 12

2 years old

Question 13

WHEN DOES THE POSTERIOR FONTANELLE CLOSE

Answer 13

1-3months old

Question 14

WHEN DO THE MASTIOD FONTANELLES CLOSE

Answer 14

6-18 months

Question 15

WHEN DO THE SPHENOIDAL FONTALLES CLOSE

Answer 15

6 months

Question 16

WHAT ARE THE THINGS TO LOOK FOR WHEN TELLING THE AGE OF THE SKULL

Answer 16

angle of mandible 
mental symphyis 
tympanic ring / plate 
metopic suture on frontal bone 
mastoid process distinct / indistinct
anterior and post fontanelles open / closed

Question 17

IS THE ANGLE OF THE MANDIBLE MORE OBTUSE IN

A CHILD OR ADULT

Answer 17

child

Question 18

WHAT AGE DOES THE MENTAL SYMPHIS FUSE CLOSED

Answer 18

7-8 months

before age 1

Question 19

WHEN DOES THE MASTIOD PROCESS BECOME DISTINCT

Answer 19

2 years old

Question 20

WHERE IS THE MASTOID PROCESS LOCATED

Answer 20

behind the external auditus meatus (the tympanic ring/plate)
a conical prominence projecting from the undersurface of the mastoid portion of the temporal bone

Question 21

WHY DOES THE SIZE OF THE FACIAL SKELETON CATCH UP TO THE BIGGER NEUROCRANIUM AFTER BIRTH

Answer 21

as the brain development is most important before birth but head still needs to fit through the pelvis
the skull aka teeth aren’t required immediately for feeding too

Question 22

WHY DOES THE MANDIBLE GET LESS OBTUSE

Answer 22

forward and downward growth of the mandible