Incidence of Sutural Bones at Asterion in Dry Human Skulls in Northeast Brazil
Authors: Barreto João Erivan Façanha , de Lucena Jalles Dantas , Limeira Ítalo Simões , de Souza Geovani Garcia , de Araújo Sales Thales Henrique , Barbosa Maria Lucianny Lima , da Silva Francisco Rafael Oliveira , Cerqueira Gilberto Santos 
Published: June 2021

In this study 60 (26 male and 54 female) dry adult human skulls halves of individuals from Northeast Brazil were analyzed to determine the type of asterion depending on the presence or absence of sutural bone, and its distance to other important bone reference points in the skull. Damaged and pathological skulls were excluded from this study. Morphometric measurements were taken on both sides of the skull with the help of Vernier caliper accurate to 0.01mm, the distance of the asterion to: 1‐ the root of the zygomatic arch (A‐RZA); 2‐ the apex of the mastoid process (A‐AMP); 3‐ the suprameatal crest (A‐SMC); and 4‐ the external occipital protuberance (A‐EOP). The morphological variability of the asterion in relation to the presence of sutural bone (Wormian) was analyzed according to the classification of Morales‐Avalos et al. (2011). The results were statistically analyzed by one‐way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and the other comparisons with Student t‐test, using GraphPad Prism version 6.00 for Windows, California USA. Values of p<0.05 were considered significant. Our study revealed that type II (absence of sutural bones) was commoner than type I (presence of sutural bones) asterion. Type I asterion was observed in 19 (31.67%) of the cases, and common more in males (18.34%). Type I occurred more on the left side in males (11.67%), whereas in females on the right side (8.34%). Type II asterion was occurred more in females (43.34%), and common more on the right side in both the genders. In the 26 male skulls halves the mean diameter of the A‐RZA was 47.23±5.35 mm (39.36–59.23 mm) and 47.31±6.03 mm (37.52–62.47 mm); mean of A‐AMP was 66.15±4.81 mm (56.14–73.31 mm) and 67.62±6.94 mm (49.27–76.45 mm); mean of A‐SMC 39.31±4.21 mm (31.0–45.83 mm) and 39.23±3.83 mm (35.16–49.36 mm); mean of A‐EOP was 60.15±3.95 mm (56.13–69.57 mm) and 58.62±4.09 mm (50.19–65.22 mm), on right and left sides, respectively. There was no statistical difference between the right and left sides (p>0.05). In the 54 female skulls halves the mean diameter of the A‐RZA was 43.24±5.31 mm (36.34–55.67 mm) and 43.35±4.93 mm (36.15–54.23 mm); mean of A‐AMP was 65.35±6.09 mm (45.76–75.35 mm) and 63.76±8.72 mm (35.18–73.39 mm); mean of A‐SMC 38.82±4.95 mm (33.36–55.10 mm) and 38.82±3.67 mm (34.38–47.83 mm); mean of A‐EOP was 57.88±5.91 mm (51.0–76.14 mm) and 58.88±4.98 mm (47.25–70.28 mm), on right and left sides, respectively. There was no statistical difference between the right and left sides (p>0.05). There was also no statistical difference between the right and left sides between the sexes (p>0.05). The study did not show statistical difference in the measurements taken between male and female skulls in this population. However, it revealed that the Brazilian population has a high incidence of type I asterion, different from previous studies. This data may be of use when planning for surgical approaches to the skull and also when interpreting radiological images.

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This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.