Identification of sutural bones in Indonesian skulls

Abstract

Sutural bones or Wormian bones (WBs) are irregularly small bones found at the sutures of the skull. They vary in number, shape and size among different population. Approximately 40% of skulls have sutural bones in the lambdoid suture, and occasionally present at the pterion which called pterion ossicle or epipteric bone. The purpose is to report the incidence of sutural bones in Indonesian adult dry skulls. All sutures of 69 adult dry skulls were examined for the presence and the type of WBs. The presence of sutural bones were observed and documented. We noted 11 out of 69 skulls (15.9%) had sutural bones. Eight were found at lambdoid suture and three were located at pterion. The Inca bones also were found in two skulls. The current study are consistent with previous studies in this field. Knowledge on these will help radiologist and neurosurgeons in making accurate diagnosis and proper management. Sutural bones also reported as ethnic variables and being of interest in matters of anthropology and forensic.