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Cranial sutures: a multidisciplinary review

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Abstract

Introduction

Progress in cranial suture research is shaping our current understanding of the topic; however, emphasis has been placed on individual contributing components rather than the cranial sutural system as a whole. Improving our holistic view helps further guide clinicians who treat cranial sutural abnormalities as well as researchers who study them.

Materials and methods

Information from anatomy, anthropology, surgery, and computed modeling was integrated to provide a perspective to interpret suture formation and variability within the cranial functional and structural system.

Results

Evidence from experimental settings, simulations, and evolution suggest a multifactorial morphogenetic process associated with functions and morphology of the sutures. Despite molecular influences, the biomechanical cranial environment has a main role in both the ontogenetic and phylogenetic suture dynamics.

Conclusions

Furthering our holistic understanding of the intricate cranial sutural system promises to expand our knowledge and enhance our ability to treat associated anomalies.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Giorgio Manzi, Luca Bondioli, Fabrizio Barberini, Christoph Zollikofer and Takashi Miura for supplying images and drawings.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Neurosurgery, St. Michael’s Hospital, 30 Bond Street, M5B 1W8, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Antonio Di Ieva, Jennilee Davidson, Scellig S. Stone & Michael D. Cusimano

  2. Centre for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Department of Systematic Anatomy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

    Antonio Di Ieva, Thomas Haider & Manfred Tschabitscher

  3. Centro Nacional de Investigación sobre la Evolución Humana, Burgos, Spain

    Emiliano Bruner

  4. Department of Neurosurgery, IRCCS Policlinico S. Matteo, Pavia, Italy

    Patrizia Pisano

  5. Department of Anatomy, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy

    Manfred Tschabitscher

  6. Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Rozzano, Milan, Italy

    Fabio Grizzi

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  1. Antonio Di Ieva
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  2. Emiliano Bruner
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Correspondence to Antonio Di Ieva.

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Antonio Di Ieva and Emiliano Bruner contributed equally to the work.

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Di Ieva, A., Bruner, E., Davidson, J. et al. Cranial sutures: a multidisciplinary review. Childs Nerv Syst 29, 893–905 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-013-2061-4

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