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Sagittal suture

The sagittal suture is a fibrous joint of the skull that runs in the midline, separating the two parietal bones. It is one of the principal cranial sutures and plays a vital role in skull growth, cranial vault stability, and accommodation of the growing brain during infancy and childhood.

The sagittal suture is of major importance in pediatrics, neurosurgery, craniofacial surgery, and radiology, particularly in the assessment of craniosynostosis, skull trauma, and postoperative changes.

Synonyms

  • Interparietal suture

  • Median sagittal suture

Location

  • Located in the midline of the cranial vault

  • Extends from the bregma anteriorly to the lambda posteriorly

  • Separates the right and left parietal bones

  • Runs anteroposteriorly along the superior aspect of the skull

  • Forms the roof of the cranial cavity

Anatomical characteristics

  • Type:

    • Fibrous joint (suture), specifically a serrated suture

  • Borders:

    • Interdigitating margins of the two parietal bones

  • Developmental nature:

    • Initially wide and flexible in infancy

    • Gradually narrows and fuses with age

Relations

Superficially:

  • Scalp layers (skin, connective tissue, aponeurosis)

Deep:

  • Inner table of the parietal bones

  • Dura mater

  • Superior sagittal sinus (closely related internally)

Anteriorly:

  • Bregma (junction with coronal suture)

Posteriorly:

  • Lambda (junction with lambdoid suture)

Laterally:

  • Parietal bones

Function

  • Skull growth accommodation: Allows expansion of the cranial vault during brain development

  • Structural stability: Maintains alignment and strength of the parietal bones

  • Protection: Contributes to the integrity of the cranial vault

MRI appearance

T1-weighted images:

  • Normal suture: Low-signal linear gap between parietal bones

T2-weighted images:

  • Normal: Low-signal fibrous line

FLAIR:

  • Normal: Thin hypointense line with minimal surrounding signal

Post-contrast T1-weighted images:

  • Normal: Minimal or no enhancement

CT appearance

Non-contrast CT (bone window):

  • Normal suture: Lucent, serrated line between parietal bones

MRI image

MRI Sagittal suture axial anatomy image -img-00000-00000

MRI image

MRI Sagittal suture coronal anatomy image -img-00000-00000

CT VRT 3D image

Sagittal suture