• Infant skull

• The neonatal skull is divided into parts

1-Neurocranium
• Clavaria (skull cap), vault.
• Base

2-Viscerocranium, facial bones (face)

The facial Skeleton (face) forms 1/8 of the neurocranium.
• Smallness of the face due to:
a. Rudimentary development of the maxillae, mandible
and paranasal sinus.
b. Absence of erupted teeth.
c. Small size of nasal cavity.

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 • Features of the infant skull

1-Norma verticalis

The bones are not fused but contains fibrous

membranes called fontanelles: There are 6
fontanelles
a) Anterior fontanelle.
• Is soft spot on the infant head.
• Is diamond – shaped membrane.
• Located between two frontal and two
parietal bones.
• It closed at18 months after birth.
• When its complete closed is take name
bregma.
It is clinically important •
1 The degree of hydration. If the
fontanelle is depressed the baby is
dehydration.
2 The state of intracranial pressure. If
fontanelle bulge the baby is high I.C.P.
3 Take sample of C.S.F.

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 B) Posterior fontanelle
1-triangular in shape.
2-It generally closes 3 months after birth.
3-when complete closed is take name Lambda.

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 C ) Sphenoid fontanelles (antero lateral)
• Is closed at 6 months after birth
• When complete closed is take name pterion.

D( mastoid fontanelles .( postero latera)

Closed at 9 months after birth
when complete closed is take name Asterion.

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 2))Features of norma lateralis
• The mastoid process is not developed.
• The styloid process is not developed.
• The angle of mandible is obtuse.
• The bony of external auditory meatus is not
developed so the ear drum is more surficial.

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 3))Features of norma frontalis.
• The glabella is not developed.
• Frontal eminence more prominent
• supraciliary arches are not developed.
• Small size nasal cavity.
• Large orbits.
• Small jaw.
• Frontal bones in 2 parts.