Skull – structure and functions, skull fracture [EXPLAINED]

Proven content

The human skull is a hard structure that protects the internal human organs located in the head. However, before the skull is ossified, its soft and flexible components allow the brain to develop and grow. In newborns and infants, they are called fontanelles.

The skull is an element of the skeletal system responsible for protecting the brain and sense organs. This spherical structure is therefore very important for our health and life. It is worth taking care of its safety at every stage of our lives. Get to know its construction.

The structure of the skull

The skull is spherical in shape and its main task is to protect the brain and sensory organs. It consists of two parts, i.e. the vault and the base. The skull is made up of the bones of the skull and the facial skeleton. The cerebrum is formed by the occipital, frontal, parietal, temporal, ethmoid and wedge bones.

The face is in front of the head. It surrounds the oral cavity, nasopharynx and eyeballs. It also protects the upper digestive tract. Thanks to it, the sensory organs are protected against injuries. The facial skeleton consists of the nasal and lacrimal bones, the lower nasal turbinates, the plowshares, the jaws, the mandible, the palatine and zygomatic bones and the hyoid bone. It differs from the skull in that some of its elements are movable.

Also read: First Skull Lid and Scalp Transplant

Skull – fracture of the skull

Skull fractures can result from injuries resulting from a head fall on a hard surface or as a result of an explosion, i.e. in situations where the energy of the injury is high enough to damage the integrity of the bones.

In people with a fractured skull, brain damage may be more severe than in people with a non-fractured head injury. How severe a skull fracture is depends in part on the type and location of the fracture. Quite often, if the bones of the skull break but remain in place, the brain will not be damaged.

Some skull fractures damage arteries and veins, which then bleed into spaces around the brain tissue. Blood can pool between the brain and skull, causing an intracranial hematoma. Fractures, especially those on the back and bottom (base) of the skull, can even damage the meninges – the layers of tissue that cover the brain. If an open fracture occurs, bacteria and / or viruses can enter the brain and cause serious infection.

Symptoms that suggest a fracture at the base of the skull:

1. cerebrospinal fluid – a clear fluid that flows across the surface of the brain between the meninges – may leak from the nose (rhinitis) or ears (otorrhea)
2. blood may pool behind the eardrum, if it ruptures, blood may leak from the ear.
3. bruises may form behind the ear or around the eyes (spectacle hematomas),
4. the blood may pool in the sinuses, which may also break.

If the fracture has damaged the brain, the following symptoms may appear:

1. persistent or increasing sleepiness and confusion
2. seizures
3. repeated vomiting
4. severe headache,
5. inability to move your arm or leg,
6. difficulties in recognizing people or the environment,
7. loss of balance,
8. trouble speaking or seeing
9. lack of coordination.

Read: They sewed her skull … .. in what was the abdominal wall

What is a fontanel?

The skull has characteristic seams on it. These are the places where the bones of the skull connect. These seams are named after the bones they connect. They make the skull hard and hard to destroy.

In babies, the skull looks completely different. In a newborn baby, the bones of the skull still contain soft non-ossified elements. These are the remnants of the membranous skull. They were called fontanelles. This is why young parents take great care of the little heads, especially the front of the skull. In a newborn, we distinguish between anterior and posterior fontanel.

The front fontanel resembles a rhombus. It is easily felt with the hand placed on the top of the baby’s head. The fontanel should be level with the rest of the bones in the skull. It happens, however, that this part of the skull vibrates, for example when a baby cries. It happens then that it even starts to pulsate and it is completely normal.

Fontanelle – disturbing symptoms

Many young parents feel afraid of touching the fontanel. However, you should not be afraid of it or avoid touching it, as it is protected by a hard membrane or layer of tissue.

Be aware that fontanel changes or abnormalities can provide important information about your baby’s development and health. That’s why the doctor pediatrician always examines the fontanel of the child during checkups. For example, delayed fontanel closure or fontanel enlargement can be associated with a variety of disturbing conditions.

When you touch the fontanel, it should be firm with a slight inner curve. Many parents worry that the fontanel is too concave, which may indicate that their baby is dehydrated. It should be remembered that before the fontanel collapse, there are other signs of dehydration: a reduced number of wet diapers, a child’s apathy and a lack of response to external stimuli. Usually, dehydration occurs when the child is not feeding well or losing fluids through vomiting or diarrhea. Contact your doctor immediately if your child develops any of these symptoms as they can be a very serious threat to his health and life.

The fontanel in a child may also “bulge” or appear slightly raised. This usually happens when the baby cries, and the fontanel returns to its original state after the crying has stopped. This generally shouldn’t be a cause for concern.

How quickly does the fontanel overgrow?

The fontanel should overgrow at the right pace. The front grimaces are overgrown between 9 and 18 months of age, and the rear ones are overgrown between 6 and 8 weeks of age. If it grows too quickly, the skull may even stop growing. Hardly anyone realizes that a child’s skull grows thanks to the fontanel. It is the fontanel that provides enough space in the skull for the growing and developing brain.

That is why observation of the fontanel is so important. So let’s remember that if the fontanelle grows together before the baby is 9 months old, the developing brain may not have enough space. As a result, the intracranial pressure increases. However, such situations are rare. However, when this happens, you should go to a neurologist.

According to some doctors, the fontanel grows too quickly because of taking too much vitamin D. Adequate vitamin D is necessary for proper bone growth. However, it can be overdosed. It is therefore worth paying attention to give infants exactly the amount of vitamin D recommended by pediatricians, i.e. 400 IU per day.

Read: Vitamin D – our winter fuel

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