Frontal Angle Of The Parietal Bone, Superior View

Description

Bregma, the frontal angle of the parietal bone, appears as the anterosuperior corner of the parietal in a superior view of the cranial vault. At this point the sagittal suture meets the coronal suture, placing the parietal bone posterior to the frontal bone and lateral to the midline falx attachment beneath. The surrounding landmarks logically include the adjacent frontal squama anteriorly, the contralateral parietal across the sagittal suture medially, and the coronal suture coursing laterally toward the pterion. For surface anatomy and pediatric skull development, bregma is the adult correlate of the anterior fontanelle, so it anchors teaching of fontanelle palpation and expected closure timing in infancy. Premature fusion of the coronal and sagittal sutures (craniosynostosis) alters the contour around bregma and is often discussed with respect to cephalic index, plagiocephaly patterns, and operative planning for cranial vault remodeling. A fixed superior perspective also supports neurosurgical orientation, since burr hole placement and craniotomy planning frequently reference sutural intersections to avoid violating the superior sagittal sinus running deep to the midline. Use this illustration in gross anatomy and osteology modules to teach the parietal bone’s angles (frontal, sphenoidal, occipital, mastoid) and to test recognition of coronal versus sagittal sutures in a top-down skull view. It also fits well in pediatrics and neurosurgery teaching files that contrast the anterior fontanelle and bregma as a palpable landmark for head circumference assessment and as a reference point in cranial approaches. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.