Main Principles in Disturbed Development of the Skull

Abstract

Connections between the base and the vault of the skull in disturbed development have been known since the time of VIRCHOW (1857). This author stated that there is 'no deformity of the vault without deformity of the base'. Later investigations, independent of VIRCHOW'S observations, and made by anatomists, have made these connections more evident.During embryonal development the ossification of the skull begins early in the third month. The first centers appear in the base. The vault is stretched over the brain. When the pressure of the growing brain has reached a certain degree the ossification of the vault begins. The first ossification centers appear at the points of highest growth pressure.The base as the foundation of the brain also forms the transverse buttresses for the vault of the skull. The main transverse buttresses are the pyramids and the sphenoid wings; the sagittal buttress is the falx cerebri. These buttresses bear the growth pressure of the brain; between them, however, must be the highest scale of pressure. Therefore the first five centers of ossification arise ( Fig. 1): 1. between the falx and the continuation of the sphenoid wings: both the frontal points,