Definition

1. Noun:
   • The craniometric point at the junction of the sagittal and coronal sutures at the top of the cranium: In anatomy and physical anthropology, the bregma is a specific, measurable landmark on the human skull. It is the point where the sagittal suture (running front-to-back along the top of the skull) meets the coronal suture (running ear-to-ear across the top of the skull). In a newborn infant, this junction is the anterior fontanelle or "soft spot."

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The anthropologist carefully measured the distance from the nasion to the bregma.
  • In fetal development, the bregma is the site of the anterior fontanelle, which allows for skull flexibility during birth.
  • The CT scan showed a small fracture just posterior to the bregma.

Advanced Usage

• Used as a craniometric landmark: The is a critical reference point for measuring skull dimensions and angles in scientific studies, forensic anthropology, and some medical imaging contexts.
  • The study used the bregma and lambda as fixed points to calculate the cranial index.

Variants and Related Words

• Bregmatic (adj): Pertaining to the bregma.
  • The bregmatic region of the skull was examined.

Synonyms

• Anterior fontanelle (specifically in infants): The soft, membranous gap at the bregma in a baby's skull before the sutures fully close.
• Craniometric point: A general term for any defined landmark on the skull used for measurement; the is one specific example.

Notes on Meaning

• The term is highly specialized and is used almost exclusively in technical fields such as anatomy, physical anthropology, osteology, forensic science, and neurosurgery. It is not a word encountered in everyday conversation.
• Its primary meaning is as a precise anatomical landmark for measurement and description.

Noun

1. the craniometric point at the junction of the sagittal and coronal sutures at the top of the cranium