congenital anomalies of the skull in human

the skull is the most complex osseous structure in the body, which is composed of 28 separate bones, most of which are paired.The skull develops from mesenchyme around the developing brain and can be divided into two parts; the neurocranium, which forms a protective case around the brain and viscerocranium, which forms the skeleton of the face.Anomalies of the skull range from minor defects to gross deformities incompatible with life. Some result from abnormal closure of the skull sutures e.g. craniosynostosis. Others fall into the class of deformities due to mechanical stress during intrauterine life or childbirth. Some deformities of the skull are secondary to disturbances in development of the brain as in hydrocephalus.There is a great relationship between the size of the skull and growth of the brain. When skull growth is restricted, growth of the brain is also affected leading to developmental delays due to increased intracranial pressure as in microcephaly and craniosynostosis.Cleft lip and palate is the most common congenital malformation of the head and neck which occurs in one per 700 births and more common in females (67%). They lead to cosmetic abnormalities, feeding difficulties and delayed and abnormal speech. So, it needs surgical repair between the ages of 9-18 months.Craniosynostosis is a common craniofacial abnormality that occurs in one per 2500 births. The commonest form of craniosynostosis is scaphocephaly in which there is premature fusion of the sagittal suture that joins the two parietal bones of the skull together. But, oxycephaly is the most severe form of craniosynostosis in which there is premature fusion of the coronal suture plus any other suture or premature fusion of all sutures.