Metopic sutural closure in the human skull
Manzanares, M.C.; Goret-Nicaise, M.; Dhem, A.
Journal of Anatomy 161: 203-215
1988
ISSN/ISBN: 0021-8782 PMID: 3254893 Document Number: 305530
The metopic sutural region of 53 human subjects, whose ages ranged between 20 weeks of gestational age and 17 months post natum was submitted to an histological and microradiographic study. The association of these two techniques allows us to observe in detail all the different tissues present in the sutural area. Small islets of secondary cartilage, which ensures the passive growth of the bones and undergoes an endochrondral ossification, are visible in two of our subjects, aged about five gestational months. It does not play an important role in the synostosis. Before closure, the sutural edges are constituted by chondroid tissue, which is responsible for the growth of each frontal bone towards the other. Moreover, chondroid tissue constitutes the first bridge of union between the two bones. Thereafter, the closing metopic closure consists of large trabeculae of chondroid tissue which is progressively substituted by lamellar bone. Before the complete fusion of the metopic suture, an open sutural space is maintained by active resorption.