THE CRANIUM IN MONGOLISM

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Abstract
Data concerning the size and shape of the cranium in mongoloid children and adults was reported in order to interpret them with reference to mechanisms influencing cranial growth. Cranial size and brain weight in mongoloids are approximately the same as normal children at, birth, but the growth is very slow during the 1st few yrs. of life. The growth of the cranium is rapid between about 3 and 6 yrs. of age, but there is no corresponding change in the weight of the brain despite evidence that the size of the brain is the main determinant of the cranial size in normal children. There is a normal arrangement of the duramater. The spread of ossification on the surfce of the fibrous cranial capsule is slower than normal during the 1st few years of life, although the capsule is growing very slowly during this period. The cranial base is short in mongoloids due to the depressed growth at the spheno-occipital synchondrosis which is probably part of a general depression of endochondral bone formation. The low rate of formation of both membrane and cartilage bone may be responsible for the absence or small size of the cranial sinuses.