Pre-Lab Questions

1. Define the anatomical term suture:

A suture is fairly rigid joint between two or more hard elements of an organism. Sutures are
found in the skeletons or exoskeletons.
2. The axial skeleton is divided into what three parts?
The three parts consist of the skull, the thoracic cage, and the vertebral column
3. The skull is formed by what two sets of bones?
The two sets of bones are the facial bones and brain case.

Adult Skull:

Anterior View
Dorsal View
Right View
Left view
Fetal Skull:

Anterior Skull
Dorsal View
Right Side
Left side
Post Lab Questions:

1)Why is it important that a fetal skull have fontanels instead of fused bones that we see in the
adult skulls?
This is so important because the fetal skull still needs room to grow.

2) What factors contribute to the disproportionately large brain case and orbits compared to the
bones of the jaw and lower face in the fetal skull?

This shows that the maxilla and mandible are underdeveloped.