Time of closure of cranial sutures in northwest Indian adults

Time of closure of sagittal, coronal and lambdoid sutures was studied at autopsy in 538 male and 127 female adults of known ages belonging to Chandigarh zone of northwest India. The sagittal suture was divided into four segments and each side of the coronal and lambdoid sutures into three segments. Whether a segment was open or closed on either surface was recorded. On analysing the record, the authors came to the conclusions: (1) obliteration of sutures commences earlier in the males than in females, (2) suture obliteration starts earlier on endocranial surface than on the ectocranial and (3) commencement and complete obliteration of a segment or the entire suture is so erratic that it is not useful for estimating the age of a skull. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.