Scaphocephaly is a type of
cephalic disorder
Cephalic disorders () are congenital conditions that stem from damage to, or abnormal development of, the budding nervous system.
Cephalic disorders are not necessarily caused by a single factor, but may be influenced by hereditary or genetic c ...
which occurs when there is a premature fusion of the
sagittal suture
The sagittal suture, also known as the interparietal suture and the ''sutura interparietalis'', is a dense, fibrous connective tissue joint between the two parietal bones of the skull. The term is derived from the Latin word ''sagitta'', meanin ...
. The sagittal suture joins together the two parietal bones of the skull. Scaphocephaly is the most common of the
craniosynostosis
Craniosynostosis is a condition in which one or more of the fibrous sutures in a young infant's skull prematurely fuses by turning into bone (ossification), thereby changing the growth pattern of the skull. Because the skull cannot expand perpe ...
conditions and is characterized by a long, narrow head.
Classification
Scaphocephaly is classified into 3 types, depending on morphology and position and suture closure:
* Sphenocephaly ("wedge-shaped", most common)
* Clinocephaly (camelback-shaped)
* Leptocephaly ("thin head", least common); this occurs when the
metopic suture
The frontal suture is a fibrous joint that divides the two halves of the frontal bone of the skull in infants and children. Typically, it completely fuses between three and nine months of age, with the two halves of the frontal bone being fused t ...
is also fused
Treatment
This condition can be corrected by surgery if the child is young enough. The use of a
cranial molding orthosis
Standard anatomical terms of location are used to unambiguously describe the anatomy of animals, including humans. The terms, typically derived from Latin or Greek roots, describe something in its standard anatomical position. This position prov ...
(a custom-made helmet) can also benefit the child if the child begins wearing it at an early age.
Terminology
The term is from Greek ''skaphe'' meaning 'light boat or skiff' and ''kephale'' meaning 'head') describes a specific shape of a long narrow head
that resembles a boat.
See also
*
Dolichocephaly
Dolichocephaly (derived from the Ancient Greek δολιχός 'long' and κεφαλή 'head') is a condition where the head is longer than would be expected, relative to its width. In humans, scaphocephaly is a form of dolichocephaly.
Dolichoce ...
References
External links
NINDS Overview
Congenital disorders of musculoskeletal system
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