132 A MANUAL OF ANATOMY 



parietal foramen, and the point where the horizontal line connecting 

 the parietal foramina intersects the sagittal suture i-, known as the 

 obelion, which coincides with the situation of the sagittal fontanelle 

 of early foetal life. This part of the sagittal suture is less serrated 

 than elsewhere, and is the first to show signs of obliteration. At 

 the lower part of the posterior region in the middle line is the 

 external occipital protuberance, which is known as the inion. A 

 little above this is the occipital point, which is the part in the 

 median plane at the greatest distance from the glabella of the 

 frontal. The tabular part of the occipital may present an occipital 

 suture, if the interparietal division persists as a separate bone. 



2. The Superior Region. 



The superior region (norma verticalis) varies in shape. It may 

 be oval with its long axis antero-posterior, and broader behind than 

 in front. Such skulls are called dolicocephalic, and in them the 

 zygomatic arches are usually visible at either side from above, a 

 condition known as phenozygous. In other cases the superior 

 region assumes a circular shape, due to the broadening of its 

 anterior part. Such skulls are called brachycephalic, and in them 

 the zygoma ic arches are usually concealed from above, a 

 condition known as cryptozygous. Some skulls are intermediate 

 between the dolicocephalic and brachycephalic, and ar known 

 as mesaticephalic. Ihe bones which enter into the superior 

 region are the upper part of the frontal and the anterior parts 

 of the parietals. It is limited in front by a line connecting 

 the frontal eminences, behind by a line connecting the parietal 

 eminences, and on either side by the superior temporal ridges of 

 the parietal and frontal bones. The highest point is situated in 

 the course of the sagittal suture, and is called the vertex. The 

 sutures in this region are usually two in number, coronal and 

 sagittal, but there is sometimes a third, namely, the metopic or 

 frontal. The coronal or fronto-parietal suture lies between the 

 frontal and parietal bones. The anterior part of the sagittal or 

 interparietal suture meets the coronal suture from behind, and the 

 place of junction is known as the bregma, which coincides with 

 the anterior fontanelle of early life. If there is a metopic or 

 frontal suture present it connects the two halves of the frontal 

 bone, and is a continuation of the sagittal suture as far as the 

 fronto-nasal suture. The superior region, as viewed from above, 

 reveals certain parts of the posterior region, namely, the posterior 

 portions of the parietals, with the parietal foramina and obelion, the 

 lambda, the interparietal portion of the occipital, and the lambdoid 

 suture, 



3. The Anterior Region. 



The anterior region (norma frontalis et facialis) is limited above 

 by a line connecting the frontal eminences, and bejow by the lower 



