IJAR.2017.331

Type of Article:  Original Research

Volume 5; Issue 3.3 (September 2017)

Page No.: 4349-4355

DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.16965/ijar.2017.331

INCIDENCE OF WORMIAN BONES IN DRY HUMAN SKULLS IN SOUTH INDIAN POPULATION

Lekshmy Vijay. V.G 1, Ramakrishna Avadhani 2, Meera Jacob *3.

*1 Post Graduate, Department of Anatomy, Yenepoya Medical College, Mangaluru, Karnataka, India.

2 Professor and HOD, Department of Anatomy, Yenepoya Medical College, Mangaluru, Karnataka, India.

3 Assistant Professor, Department of Anatomy, Yenepoya Medical College, Mangaluru, Karnataka, India.

Address For Correspondence:  Dr. Meera Jacob, Assistant Professor, Department Of Anatomy, Yenepoya Medical College, Mangaluru, Karnataka, India. E-Mail: nakulalekshmy@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Background: The Wormian bones are small bones located in or near the sutures of the skull which are irregular in size, shape and number. The present study is to look into the morphological details of such supernumerary bones of skull with regards to their incidence, number and topography in skulls from the South Indian population.

Materials and Methods: This  study  was  carried  out  in  the  Department  of  Anatomy, Yenepoya  Medical  College. A  total  of  200  dry  human skulls  for wormian sutures in 7 bilateral sites and 4 unilateral sites. The parameters such as; percentage of skulls with wormian bones, Incidence of wormian bones with respect to sutures and topographic distribution of wormian bones in the skull were noted.

Results and Discussion: In the present study the incidence of wormian bones was seen in 123 (61.5%), with a maximum incidence at the lambdoid suture (112 skulls, 91.05%), followed by the asterion (98 skulls, 79.67%) and coronal suture (66 skulls, 53.65%). We also found that 70 (14.17%) wormian bones were present along the midline of the skull.

Conclusion: The radiologist and neurosurgeons should keep in mind about such occurrence of accessory bones before doing craniotomy surgeries. The topographical distribution of wormian bones could be useful to radiologists and forensic experts in successfully differentiating a skull fracture/injury and a normal suture, and thereby exclude possibilities of physical abuse and brittle bones. It also helps neurosurgeons, neuroanatomists, orthopedicians, radiologists, anthropologists and morphologists to arrive at an early diagnosis and timely management of disorders associated with it.

KEY WORDS: Wormian bones, Sutures, Skull, Frontanella, Genetic factors.

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Cite this article: Lekshmy Vijay. V.G, Ramakrishna Avadhani, Meera Jacob. INCIDENCE OF WORMIAN BONES IN DRY HUMAN SKULLS IN SOUTH INDIAN POPULATION. Int J Anat Res 2017;5(3.3):4349-4355. DOI: 10.16965/ijar.2017.331