The metopic suture (also known as the frontal, interfrontal, or median frontal suture) is a vertical fibrous joint that divides the two halves of the frontal bone and is present in a newborn.

What age does the metopic suture closure?

It may fuse as early as 3 months of age and should fuse in nearly all patients by around 9 months of age ^1–4. Premature fusion of the suture is termed metopic synostosis (type of craniosynostosis) which can then result in trigonocephaly.

Does everyone have a metopic suture?

The frontal bone has vertical portion (squama) and horizontal portion (orbital part). Some adults have a metopic or frontal suture in the vertical portion. At birth the frontal bone contains two portions, separated by the metopic (frontal) suture. Metopism is the condition of having a persistent metopic suture.

How metopic suture is formed?

The Metopic or Frontal Suture is formed at the meeting of the two halves of Frontal bone, in the midline. Normally it starts to close in the second year of life and within a short duration, gets completely obliterated.

Is metopic suture present in adults?

When the metopic suture persists into adulthood it is known as “metopism”. It is rare to find this suture in adults and its presence is not considered pathological. However, premature closure of any of the cranial sutures results in a pathology known as craniosynostosis [3].

Is metopic suture normal?

The metopic suture is the only suture that fuses normally during childhood at anytime from 3-18 months of age. When the metopic suture closes earlier than normal, typically well before birth, it is called metopic craniosynostosis.

What does the squamous suture separate?

Squamosal sutures, roughly semicircular in configuration and separate the parietal bones from the superior portion of the temporal bones.

Can a Metopic Ridge go away?

When the metopic suture fuses, the bone next to the suture will often thicken, creating a metopic ridge. The ridge may be subtle or obvious, but it is normal and usually goes away after a few years.

What bones does the Metopic suture connect?

The metopic suture (or frontal suture) is variably present in adults.

• Coronal suture – unites the frontal bone with the parietal bones.
• Sagittal suture – unites the 2 parietal bones in the midline.
• Lambdoid suture – unites the parietal bones with the occipital bone.

Why does my baby have a ridge on his forehead?

Summary. A metopic ridge is a prominent ridge running down your child’s forehead. It is where suture lines meet between the two bony plates. A birth defect called craniosynostosis, in which one or more sutures fuse prematurely, can cause a metopic ridge.

Where is the temporal suture located?

The petrosquamous suture is the interosseous border the petrous part and the squamous part of the temporal bone. The petrotympanic suture (also known as the squamotympanic suture) is a temporal fissure that runs between the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and the tympanic cavity.

Which suture is present between the frontal and parietal lobes?

Coronal suture: Located between the frontal and parietal bones.

What is the weakest part of the skull?

Clinical significance The pterion is known as the weakest part of the skull. The anterior division of the middle meningeal artery runs underneath the pterion. Consequently, a traumatic blow to the pterion may rupture the middle meningeal artery causing an epidural haematoma.

How rare is persistent metopic suture?

The metopic suture usually disappears at the age of 2-3 years after birth. But it remains persistent in 5.1% of Asians and 8.7% in Europeans Caucasians skull [6].

Why might a persistent metopic suture be of clinical significance?

Metopism, the persistence of the metopic suture in adulthood, is a clinically significant radiographic finding. In addition to masquerading as a fracture of the frontal bone, a persistent metopic suture may be associated with other clinically significant anatomical variations including frontal sinus abnormalities.

Why do I have a ridge on my forehead?

The ridging is caused when the two halves close prematurely. The physical landmarks of the human face are very similar from one face to another. A metopic ridge is a ridge of bone or suture line on the forehead between the two halves of the frontal bone. The ridging is caused when the two halves close prematurely.