Suture
To read about other bones of the head and neck, use the links on the left-side of this page.
The word 'suture' has meanings in both anatomy and surgery.
In the context of anatomy, a suture is a type of immovable joint that that exists only between the skull (or 'cranial') bones.
These sutures are fibrous joints composed of a thin layer of dense fibrous connective tissues. The irregular interlocking edges of the bones attached by these sutures contribute to the overall strength of the joints and so and reduce the risk of fracture due to impacts or other possible damage.
See notes about, and labelled diagrams of, all human cranial and facial bones on one page.
More about Bones and the Skeletal System:
This website includes many pages about bones and the skeletal system. The following pages may be of interest. These also link to further pages about related topics such as specific types of fractures, bone diseases and so on.
- Structures and Functions of Bones (an overview about the Skeletal System)
- Types of Bones, such as long bones, short bones, flat bones, etc.
- Bone Markings and Features on Bones of the Human Body
- Types of Joints, such as immoveable, slightly moveable and freely moveable joints
- Diagram of the Human Skeleton
- Overview of types of Conditions and Disorders of the Skeletal System
For further information see also our pages of books about orthopaedics.
