Persistent metopic suture in adult cadaveric dry skulls of coastal Karnataka

Introduction: During the fetal life, a frontal suture separates two frontal bones. This suture usually obliterates by 8 year after birth. However, in a few individuals it may persist. This persistent suture, in between two bones is known as metopic suture. Remnants of metopic suture could be found at the region of the glabella. It has been noted that these remnants of metopic suture, which may mimic a skull fracture, could mislead a radiologist, a neurosurgeon and also an inexperienced forensic expert. Interestingly, anthropologists, have studied the persistence of this suture in various races. Objectives: Therefore, the present study on adult dry skulls of coastal Karnataka was conducted to know the incidence of persistence of various forms of metopic suture. Methods: Seventy adult skulls of unknown sex were taken for the study. Results: Thirty-nine skulls showed absence of metopic suture, one skull showed complete metopic suture, six skulls showed V-shaped, nine skulls showed U-shaped, four skulls showed Y-shaped, eleven skulls showed a linear suture. Conclusion: These findings show the incidence of metopic suture in the Dravidian race that belongs to the south Indian region. Thus the findings of the present study would add on to the existing knowledge and thus would be of great importance to the forensic experts.