KUMJ | VOL. 21 | NO. 4 | ISSUE 84 | OCTOBER - DECEMBER, 2023
Morphometric Study on Wormian Bone of Dry Adult Skull of Nepalese Population
Shrestha A, Khan GA
Abstract: Background
Accessory (supernumerary bone) is small irregular worm like bone. These bones are
also known as wormian bone. Accessory bone develops when additional ossification
centers appear and form extra bones. Many bones develop from several ossification
centers of ossification and these separate parts normally fuse. Sometimes one of
these centers fails to fuse with main bone. Circumscribed areas of bone are seen
along the sutures of the cranium where flat bones about, particularly related to
parietal bone.
Objective
To investigate presence and to determine morphologic and morphometric
characteristics of wormian (sutural) bones.
Method
The study was conducted on 25 dry human skulls with unknown gender, ethnicity and
race in Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Sciences, Kailashnagar, Bharatpur-5,
Chitwan Nepal. The study was conducted on 25 dry human skulls with unknown
gender, ethnicity and race in Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Sciences,
Kailashnagar, Bharatpur-5, Chitwan Nepal. The deformed skull and skull of pediatrics
age group are excluded. The location, shape, number and side of Wormian bone are
determined. The SPSS 20 program and descriptive statistical method analysis were
used for data analysis.
Result
Total 25 adult dry skulls were observed in the study. Both sides of skull were observed.
Out of 25 skulls Wormian bones are not found in left sided three lambdoidal suture
(four percent).
Conclusion
The knowledge of Wormian bones plays a major role for the neurosurgeons, neuro-
anatomists, radiologists, forensic experts and anthropologist. Presence of few bones
are normal. But multiple Wormian bones need attention as it may have underlying
skeletal or central nervous system pathology. In radiographs they mimic fracture lines.
Wormian bone at pterion may produce complications in neurosurgical procedures
like burr holes.
Keyword : Skull, Suture, Wormian bone
