Obstetric and Gynecological Nursing - The Carter Center

Sutures and fontanelles
Sutures are cranial joints and are formed where two bones
adjoin. Where two or more sutures meet, a fontanell is
formed.
Types of sutures
A. The lambdoidal suture is shped like the Greek letter
lambda and separates the occipital bone from the two
parital bones.
B. The sagital suture lies between the parital bones
C. The coronal sutrue separetes the frontal bones from the
parital bones, passing from one temple to the other.
D. The frontal suture runs between the two haves of the
frontal bone
Types of fontanelle
A. The posterior fontanelle or lambda is situated at the
junction of the lambdiodal and sagital sutures. It is small
triangular in shape and can be recogonized vaginally.
B. The anterior fontanelle or bregma is found at the junction
of the sagital, coronal and frontal sutures and recognized
vaginally.
The sutures and fontanelles, because they consist of
memberanous spaces, allow for a degree of overlapping of
the skull bones during labour and delivery.
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