Wormian bones (also known as intrasutural bones) is the name given to the additional small bones or bone islands sometimes found between the cranial sutures of the bones of the skull vault, most commonly in relation to the lambdoid suture. Some reserve the term Wormian bones to just the intrasutural bones proximate to the lambdoid suture.
Some consider them abnormal only if greater than 10 in number.
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Epidemiology
The reported incidence is variable, ranging from around 10% (in Caucasian skulls) and 40% (in Indian skulls) to 80% (in Chinese skulls) ref. In general, males are more frequently affected than females ref.
Associations
Their associations are various, and include:
Menkes disease (kinky hair kinky vessel syndrome)
Wormian bones can also be idiopathic (anatomical variant).
A useful mnemonic is PORKCHOPS.
Pathology
Location
lambdoid suture: most common
pterion: up to 12%; former anterolateral fontanelle (also known as the epipteric bone or pterion ossicle)
History and etymology
Wormian bones are named after the Danish physician, theologian and antiquary Ole Worm (Olaus Wormius) (1588-1654) 4, who first described them.
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