Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsAnatomy of the SkullThe Skull’s Five SuturesThe Significance of the Squamous Suture in the SkullSuture Strain: What to Look ForSummaryFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Anatomy of the Skull
The Skull’s Five Sutures
The Significance of the Squamous Suture in the Skull
Suture Strain: What to Look For
Summary
Frequently Asked Questions
There are five major joints, or sutures, that connect the bones in your skull. These flexible joints allow the bones in the skull to accommodate brain growth during infancy.
The squamous suture is of particular importance because it connects the parietal bones, which form the roof and sides of the skull, to the temporal bones, which form the side and base of the skull.
Aliaksandra Ivanova / EyeEm / Getty Images
An infant’s skull is made up of bony plates, sutures, and fontanelles, which all work together to protect the brain and allow it room to grow. The sutures act as flexible joints that allow the skull to mold during birth. They also allow the brain to grow during infancy.
The squamous suture runs along the side of the face, connecting the parietal bones to the temporal bones on each side of the head.
In addition to the squamous suture, the other major sutures in an infant’s skull include:
The squamous suture acts as an expansion joint between the parietal and temporal bones. As the brain grows during infancy, the sutures allow the skull to grow and expand. If the skull was not able to expand during infancy, your little one’s brain would start to press against the hard bones. This would lead to increased pressure on the brain and possibly brain damage.
It is possible for the squamous suture to fuse prematurely, causing the bones to join and harden. This condition is known ascraniosynostosis. Squamous craniosynostosis is not common, and may occur as part of a genetic disorder.
Suture strain refers to times when the sutures in an infant’s skull are put under pressure or strain. This could happen during trauma to the skull or from an underlying condition that causes increased pressure on the brain, known asincreased intracranial pressure.
When pressure builds up in an infant’s skull, the sutures naturally stretch to accommodate for the increased pressure. This adaptation puts them under strain.
Other signs of increased intracranial pressure in newborns and infants include:
Increased intracranial pressure is a medical emergency and requires treatment right away.
A Word From Verywell
If you notice any changes to your child’s head or skull shape, talk with your doctor right away. Any signs of increased intracranial pressure, such as a bulging fontanelle, require immediate treatment.
Are the squamosal suture and squamous suture the same thing?
Yes, the terms “squamosal suture” and “squamous suture” both refer to the same suture that connects the temporal and parietal bones in the skull.
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Cranial sutures.Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin.Anatomy of the newborn skull.Mount Sinai.Cranial sutures.Eley KA, Thomas GP, Sheerin F, Cilliers D, Wall S, Johnson D.The Significance of Squamosal Suture Synostosis.J Craniofac Surg. 2016 Sep;27(6):1543-9. doi:10.1097/SCS.0000000000002888Katsianou MA, Adamopoulos C, Vastardis H, Basdra EK.Signaling mechanisms implicated in cranial sutures pathophysiology: Craniosynostosis.BBA Clin. 2016 Apr 29;6:165-176. doi:10.1016/j.bbacli.2016.04.006MedlinePlus.Increased intracranial pressure.Additional ReadingNikolova S, Toneva D, Lazarov N.Squamous suture obliteration: frequency and investigation of the associated skull morphology.Anat Sci Int. 2021 Jan;96(1):42-54. doi:10.1007/s12565-020-00555-x
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Cranial sutures.Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin.Anatomy of the newborn skull.Mount Sinai.Cranial sutures.Eley KA, Thomas GP, Sheerin F, Cilliers D, Wall S, Johnson D.The Significance of Squamosal Suture Synostosis.J Craniofac Surg. 2016 Sep;27(6):1543-9. doi:10.1097/SCS.0000000000002888Katsianou MA, Adamopoulos C, Vastardis H, Basdra EK.Signaling mechanisms implicated in cranial sutures pathophysiology: Craniosynostosis.BBA Clin. 2016 Apr 29;6:165-176. doi:10.1016/j.bbacli.2016.04.006MedlinePlus.Increased intracranial pressure.Additional ReadingNikolova S, Toneva D, Lazarov N.Squamous suture obliteration: frequency and investigation of the associated skull morphology.Anat Sci Int. 2021 Jan;96(1):42-54. doi:10.1007/s12565-020-00555-x
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
MedlinePlus.Cranial sutures.Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin.Anatomy of the newborn skull.Mount Sinai.Cranial sutures.Eley KA, Thomas GP, Sheerin F, Cilliers D, Wall S, Johnson D.The Significance of Squamosal Suture Synostosis.J Craniofac Surg. 2016 Sep;27(6):1543-9. doi:10.1097/SCS.0000000000002888Katsianou MA, Adamopoulos C, Vastardis H, Basdra EK.Signaling mechanisms implicated in cranial sutures pathophysiology: Craniosynostosis.BBA Clin. 2016 Apr 29;6:165-176. doi:10.1016/j.bbacli.2016.04.006MedlinePlus.Increased intracranial pressure.
MedlinePlus.Cranial sutures.
Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin.Anatomy of the newborn skull.
Mount Sinai.Cranial sutures.
Eley KA, Thomas GP, Sheerin F, Cilliers D, Wall S, Johnson D.The Significance of Squamosal Suture Synostosis.J Craniofac Surg. 2016 Sep;27(6):1543-9. doi:10.1097/SCS.0000000000002888
Katsianou MA, Adamopoulos C, Vastardis H, Basdra EK.Signaling mechanisms implicated in cranial sutures pathophysiology: Craniosynostosis.BBA Clin. 2016 Apr 29;6:165-176. doi:10.1016/j.bbacli.2016.04.006
MedlinePlus.Increased intracranial pressure.
Nikolova S, Toneva D, Lazarov N.Squamous suture obliteration: frequency and investigation of the associated skull morphology.Anat Sci Int. 2021 Jan;96(1):42-54. doi:10.1007/s12565-020-00555-x
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