Age changes in Skull

Closure of fontanelles
Fontanelle

Closure

Occipital fontanelles

2nd month

Lateral fontanelles

2nd month

Anterior fontanelle

2nd year

Fusion of Bones
Bone

Fusion

Two halves of mandible

2nd year

Condylar portion of Occipital with squama

3rd year

Condylar portion of Occipital with basioccipital

5th year

Basioccipital with basisphenoid

18-21st year

Closure of sutures
Suture

Closure

Metopic suture

3 years

Coronal, Sagittal & Lambdoid sutures start to close on

their inner side

25 years

Posterior 1/3rd of sagittal suture

30-40
years

Anterior 1/3rd of sagittal suture

40-50
years

Lower half of coronal suture

40-50
years

Lambdoid suture

45 years

Middle 1/3rd of sagittal suture

50-60
years

Upper half of coronal suture

50-60
years

20-30

40-50
50

2-4

30-40

50-60

80
50-60

60-70
40-50

Other age criteria in skull

Age related Features
Young skull is smooth & ivorine on both inner
& outer surfaces
Pits & depressions become more marked with
age, both in depth & frequency
Grooves of middle meningeal artery become
deeper
Age

No consistent age change in thickness of

vaultFeature
bones

40+/ Surface assumes a matted, granular, rough appearance

-5
25

Muscular markings become increasingly evident

>50

Diploe become less vascularly channeled with increasing

replacement by bone

Age differences in Mandible

Trait

Infancy

Adult

Old age

Body

Shallow

Thick & long

Shallow

Ramus

Short &
oblique; forms
obtuse angle
with body

Less obtuse
angle with
body

Obtuse angle
with body
(~140)

Mental
foramen

Opens near
lower margin

Opens midway Opens near

between
alveolar
margins
margin

Condyloid
process

At lower level
than coronoid
process

Elongates &
Neck is bent
projects above backwards
coronoid
process