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    From Musculoskeletal System

    Rotator Cuff Muscles
    Supraspinatus, Infraspinatus, Teres Minor, Subscapularis.
    Ilium
    Uppermost and largest part of the hip bone.
    Scapula
    Shoulder blade providing attachment for muscles of the upper limb.
    Biceps Brachii
    Muscle responsible for elbow flexion.
    Buccinator
    Muscle that helps with chewing and blowing air out.
    Hamstrings
    Biceps Femoris, Semitendinosus, Semimembranosus.
    Acetabulum
    The acetabulum is the pelvic socket that connects with the femoral head to form the hip joint, vital for stability, movement, and weight-bearing.
    Patella
    Knee cap, protecting the knee joint.
    Frontal Bone
    Bone forming the forehead and upper part of the orbits.
    Diaphragm
    Primary muscle for breathing.
    Ethmoid Bone
    Bone forming part of the nasal cavity and the orbit.
    Skull
    Bony structure of the head that encases the brain.
    Femur
    Thigh bone, the longest and strongest bone in the body.
    Cranial Bones
    Bones of the skull that protect the brain.
    Cervical Vertebrae (C1 - C7)
    Vertebrae in the neck region (C1-C7).
    Flexor and Extensor Groups
    Muscles responsible for flexing and extending the hand and wrist.
    Pivot Joints
    e.g., atlanto-axial joint
    Synchondroses
    Cartilaginous joints where bones are connected by hyaline cartilage.
    Sartorius
    Longest muscle in the body responsible for hip flexion.
    Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL)
    Knee ligament that stabilizes the joint.
    Hinge Joints
    e.g., elbow, knee
    Pelvic Floor Muscles
    Muscles that support pelvic organs.
    Inferior Nasal Conchae
    Bones inside the nasal cavity that filter and humidify air.
    Lacrimal Bones
    Bones forming part of the eye socket and housing the tear ducts.
    Anterior Longitudinal Ligament
    Spinal ligament running along the front of the vertebral column.

    Wormian Bones

    Reviewed by our medical team

    Sutural bones in the skull.

    1. Overview

    Wormian bones, also called sutural bones, are extra bone pieces that occur within the sutures of the skull, most commonly within the lambdoid suture. These bones are irregular in size and shape and are considered normal anatomical variants. However, multiple or abnormally large Wormian bones may be associated with certain genetic or developmental disorders.

    2. Location

    Wormian bones are found within the cranial sutures, particularly:

    • Lambdoid suture: Between the parietal bones and the occipital bone — the most common location.

    • Coronal suture: Occasionally between the frontal and parietal bones.

    • Sagittal suture: Rare, but possible.

    • Fontanelles: Can also appear within fontanelles in infants, especially the posterior fontanelle.

    They are more prevalent in individuals of certain ethnic backgrounds and in some congenital conditions.

    3. Structure

    Wormian bones vary in number, size, and shape:

    • Composition: Composed of normal compact and cancellous bone tissue.

    • Shape: Usually small and irregular; can sometimes be large and resemble fractured bone fragments.

    • Number: Typically range from 1 to 10 in healthy individuals but may be more numerous in pathological states.

    • Borders: Surrounded by cranial sutures on all sides, unlike standard skull bones that are bordered by only a few sutures.

    4. Function

    Wormian bones themselves do not serve any independent physiological or mechanical function. However, they may have structural effects:

    • Suture accommodation: May represent a response to mechanical stress or abnormal suture growth.

    • Space fillers: May passively occupy gaps that arise during skull development or suture fusion.

    They are best understood as incidental findings rather than essential functional components.

    5. Physiological role(s)

    While they lack a direct physiological role, Wormian bones are sometimes indicative of underlying physiological or developmental processes:

    • Markers of skull development: Their presence may reflect irregularities in ossification or suture closure.

    • Variation in skull biomechanics: May form in response to abnormal tension or pressure at sutures during infancy.

    • Evolutionary and population variation: Common in some ethnic groups and can be used anthropologically to study populations.

    6. Clinical Significance

    The presence of Wormian bones is usually benign, but when excessive in number or unusually large, they can be associated with:

    • Osteogenesis imperfecta:

      • A brittle bone disease often associated with multiple Wormian bones, especially in the lambdoid region.

    • Cleidocranial dysplasia:

      • A condition involving delayed skull ossification and numerous sutural bones.

    • Hypothyroidism (cretinism):

      • May present with delayed cranial ossification and Wormian bones.

    • Down syndrome:

      • Wormian bones may occur more frequently in children with trisomy 21.

    • Diagnostic imaging:

      • May be seen on X-ray or CT scans and should not be confused with skull fractures or pathological lesions.

    • Forensic/anthropological relevance:

      • Useful in age estimation or identifying certain populations or genetic traits in skeletal remains.

    Did you know? Your feet contain 26 bones.