At approximately what age does the lambdoid suture fuse?

At approximately what age does the lambdoid suture fuse?

• A. 1 year
• B. 24 years
• C. 26 years
• D. Never

Answer: (C)

Cranial sutures allow skull growth early in life and gradually fuse as maturation occurs. The lambdoid suture sits between the occipital bone and the parietal bones, and its fusion tends to complete in early adulthood. An approximate age around the mid- to late-twenties, such as 26 years, is a reasonable estimate for when this suture commonly finishes fusing. Early in life the sutures are open to permit growth; by adulthood they have largely ossified. While there is variation, the idea is that this fusion occurs by the late twenties, not at birth or in the teens.

Cranial sutures allow skull growth early in life and gradually fuse as maturation occurs. The lambdoid suture sits between the occipital bone and the parietal bones, and its fusion tends to complete in early adulthood. An approximate age around the mid- to late-twenties, such as 26 years, is a reasonable estimate for when this suture commonly finishes fusing. Early in life the sutures are open to permit growth; by adulthood they have largely ossified. While there is variation, the idea is that this fusion occurs by the late twenties, not at birth or in the teens.