Bregma: Difference between revisions

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The location of the **bregma** on the human skull.

Anterior view of skull highlighting the bregma.

Bregma[edit]

The bregma is an important anatomical landmark on the superior aspect of the human skull, located at the intersection of the coronal suture and the sagittal suture. It represents the point where the paired parietal bones meet the frontal bone at the midline, and is situated at the apex of the calvaria (skullcap).

Anatomical Location[edit]

The bregma lies on the midline of the skull, at the junction between:

The coronal suture, which separates the frontal bone from the parietal bones
The sagittal suture, which separates the two parietal bones

This point is found on the top of the skull, approximately near the center of the cranial vault, and can be used as a palpable surface landmark in both clinical and surgical contexts.

Development[edit]

In the developing infant skull, the bregma corresponds to the location of the anterior fontanelle — a membranous gap between the cranial bones that allows for flexibility during birth and rapid brain growth.

The anterior fontanelle is typically diamond-shaped and remains open at birth.
Ossification of this region generally occurs between 4 and 26 months after birth.
Once closed, it becomes the bony landmark known as the bregma.

Clinical Significance[edit]

The bregma holds diagnostic and procedural importance in various medical fields:

Pediatric Assessment[edit]

The anterior fontanelle is routinely examined in infants.

A sunken fontanelle may indicate dehydration. A bulging fontanelle may suggest increased intracranial pressure or hydrocephalus.

Neurosurgery[edit]

In stereotactic surgery and other neurosurgical procedures, the bregma serves as a reference point for orienting instruments and for mapping brain coordinates.

Congenital Disorders[edit]

In conditions such as cleidocranial dysostosis, ossification of the anterior fontanelle is delayed or absent, resulting in a persistent open bregma.
Craniosynostosis may alter the morphology or closure timing of sutures at or near the bregma.

Etymology[edit]

The word bregma is derived from the Greek term βρέγμα (brégma), meaning “top of the head” or “crown.”

External Links[edit]

lesson1 at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University)

Gray's Anatomy[edit]

Anatomy atlases (external)[edit]

[1] - Anatomy Atlases

Adapted from the Classic Grays Anatomy of the Human Body 1918 edition (public domain)

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-[[File:Kort-lang-skalle.gif|thumb|Bregma on a human skull.]]
+{{SI}}
-'''Bregma''' is an anatomical reference point on the human skull, representing the location where the [[coronal suture]] intersects with the [[sagittal suture]].
+[[File:Kort-lang-skalle.gif|thumb|The location of the '''bregma''' on the human skull.]]
+[[File:Slide3ROM.JPG|thumb|Anterior view of skull highlighting the bregma.]]
-==Location==
+== '''Bregma''' ==
-Situated at the superior middle portion of the [[Calvaria_(skull)|calvaria]] (the upper part of the skull), the bregma is the precise point of convergence for the [[frontal bone]] and the two [[parietal bone]]s.
-==Development==
+The '''bregma''' is an important [[anatomical landmark]] on the superior aspect of the human [[skull]], located at the intersection of the [[coronal suture]] and the [[sagittal suture]]. It represents the point where the paired [[parietal bones]] meet the [[frontal bone]] at the midline, and is situated at the apex of the [[calvaria]] (skullcap).
-In early infancy, this location is recognized as the [[anterior fontanelle]], a soft and membranous region. It eventually ossifies, typically between 4 to 26 months of age, transforming into the bregma.
-==Clinical Significance==
+== '''Anatomical Location''' ==
-* '''[[cleidocranial dysostosis]]''': This congenital disorder is characterized by the absence of the bregma's formation, as the [[anterior fontanelle]] fails to close.
+The bregma lies on the midline of the skull, at the junction between:
-* '''[[stereotactic surgery]]''': The bregma serves as a crucial landmark for surgeons performing brain surgeries using stereotactic techniques.
+* The [[coronal suture]], which separates the [[frontal bone]] from the [[parietal bones]]
-* '''Pediatric Examination''': During a pediatrician's physical assessment of an infant, the [[anterior fontanelle]] is palpated. Indicators of potential health issues include:
+* The [[sagittal suture]], which separates the two [[parietal bones]]
-** A sunken fontanelle, which may imply dehydration.
-** An unusually tense or protruding anterior fontanelle, suggesting increased intracranial pressure.
-==Etymology==
+This point is found on the top of the skull, approximately near the center of the cranial vault, and can be used as a palpable surface landmark in both clinical and surgical contexts.
-The term "bregma" has its origins in the Greek word ''bregma'', which translates to "top of the head."<ref> Liddell & Scott. ''Greek-English Lexicon''.</ref>
-==References==
+== '''Development''' ==
-{{Reflist}}
+In the developing [[infant]] skull, the bregma corresponds to the location of the [[anterior fontanelle]] — a membranous gap between the cranial bones that allows for flexibility during birth and rapid brain growth.
-==Additional Images==
+* The anterior fontanelle is typically diamond-shaped and remains open at birth.
-<gallery>
+* Ossification of this region generally occurs between '''4 and 26 months''' after birth.
-File:Slide3ROM.JPG|Human skull highlighting the bregma.
+* Once closed, it becomes the bony landmark known as the bregma.
-</gallery>
-==External links==
+== '''Clinical Significance''' ==
+The bregma holds diagnostic and procedural importance in various medical fields:
+=== Pediatric Assessment ===
+* The '''[[anterior fontanelle]]''' is routinely examined in infants.
+''' A '''sunken fontanelle''' may indicate [[dehydration]].
+''' A '''bulging fontanelle''' may suggest [[increased intracranial pressure]] or [[hydrocephalus]].
+=== Neurosurgery ===
+* In '''[[stereotactic surgery]]''' and other '''[[neurosurgical procedures]]''', the bregma serves as a reference point for orienting instruments and for mapping brain coordinates.
+=== Congenital Disorders ===
+* In conditions such as '''[[cleidocranial dysostosis]]''', ossification of the anterior fontanelle is delayed or absent, resulting in a persistent open bregma.
+* [[Craniosynostosis]] may alter the morphology or closure timing of sutures at or near the bregma.
+== '''Etymology''' ==
+The word ''bregma'' is derived from the Greek term ''βρέγμα'' (''brégma''), meaning “top of the head” or “crown.”
+== '''See Also''' ==
+* [[Fontanelle]]
+* [[Lambda (anatomy)]]
+* [[Skull sutures]]
+* [[Cranial landmarks]]
+* [[Cranial vault]]
+* [[Anatomical terms of location]]
+== '''External Links''' ==
 * {{NormanAnatomy|lesson1}}
+* [https://radiopaedia.org/articles/bregma Radiopaedia: Bregma]
-==See also==
+* [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538290/ NCBI: Anatomy, Bregma]
 {{Sutures}}
-{{Gray's}}
+{{Human anatomy}}
-{{human anatomy}}
+{{Grays adapted}}
 [[Category:Human anatomy]]
 [[Category:Skull]]
+[[Category:Anatomical landmarks]]
+[[Category:Head (anatomy)]]