The suture between the parietal bones and the occipital bone is known as the

• A. Coronal suture
• B. Sagittal suture
• C. Squamous suture
• D. Lambdoid suture

Answer: (D)

Sutures are fibrous joints that hold skull bones together and allow for growth during development. The suture between the parietal bones and the occipital bone is the lambdoid suture. It runs along the back of the skull where the parietal bones meet the occipital bone, and its name comes from its lambda‑like shape at the point where the sagittal suture meets it. This is different from the coronal suture, which lies across the top between the frontal bone and the parietal bones; the sagittal suture, which runs along the midline between the two parietal bones; and the squamous sutures, which run between the parietal and temporal bones on each side. In infants, sutures are wide and allow skull deformation during birth and growth; they gradually fuse as you age.