Fetal Skull
Fetal skull made of bones which are compressible to some extent in vault anchored to base of the skull

LANDMARK * Occiput - is the occipital bone/external occipital protuberance. * Sinciput - is the forehead region of fetal head. * Parietal eminences - are the eminences of parietal bone on either side. * Mentum - is the chin. * Vertical point - is the center of sagittal suture. * Frontal point - is the root of nose. * Sub occiput - is the junction fetal neck and Occiput. * Sub mentum - is the junction between neck and chin. * Bi parietal - is the transverse distance between two parietal eminences. * Bi temporal - is the distance between two lower end of coronal suture

SUTURES * Sagittal suture - This lies in between two parietal bone. * Coronal suture - This lies in between the frontal and parietal bone on either side. * Frontal suture - This lies in between two frontal bone. * Lambdoid suture - It lies in between the parietal and occipital bone on either side.

* Clinical importance of suture:- * These suture permit gliding movement of one bone over other during moulding of the head in the vertex presentation , as a result the diameter of the head get smaller so passage of head through the birth canal become easier. * Position of fontanelle and sagittal suture can identify attitude and position of vertex. * From the digital palpation of the sagittal suture during labour, degree of internal rotation and degree of moulding of the head can be noticed. * In deep transverse arrest, this sagittal suture lies transversely at the level of the ischial spines.

AREA OF SKULL * Vertex - It is the quadrangular area bounded anteriorly by the bregma and coronal sutures behind by the lambda and the lambdoid sutures and laterally by the line passing through the parietal eminences. * Brow - It is an area bounded on one side by the anterior fontanelle and the coronal sutures and on the other side by the root of the nose and supra-orbital ridges of the either side. * Face - It is an area bounded on one side by the root of the nose and the supra-orbital ridges and on the other by the junction of the floor of mouth with neck. * Anterior fontanelle or bregma - It is a diamond shaped area of unossified membrane formed by the junction of 4 suture. * Posterior fontanelle or lambda - It is the triangular depressed area at the junction of the three suture.

DIAMETER OF SKULL * The engaging diameter of the fetal skull depends on the degree of the flexion of the presenting part.
A. THE ANTERO-POSTERIOR DIAMETER which may be engaged are:-
1.Sub-occipito bregmatic:- * It extends from the nape of the neck to the centre of anterior fontanelle. * Length:-9.5cm * Attitude:-complete flexion * Presentation:-Vertex. * Clinical importance:- Smallest diameter.

2.Suboccipito frontal:- * It extends from the nape of the neck to root of nose. * Length:-10cm * Attitude:- Incomplete flexion. * Presentation:-Vertex

3.Occipito-frontal:- * Extends from the occipital eminence to the root of the nose (Glabella). * Length:-11.5cm * Attitude:-Marked deflexion * Presentation:-vertex * Clinical importance:- This engaging diameter may give rise to prolonged labour.

4.Mento-vertical:- * It extends from the mid-point of the chin to the center of the sagittal suture * Length:-14cm * Attitude :- Partial extension. * Presentation:- Brow * Clinical importance:- In this engaging diameter, baby has to be delivered by caesarean section.

5.Sub-mento vertical:- * It extends from the junction of the floor of the mouth and neck to the center of the sagittal suture, * Length:-11.5cm * Attitude: -Incomplete extension. * Presentation:-Face

6.Sub-mento bregmatic:- * It extends from the junction of the floor of the mouth and Neck to the centre of bregma. * Length:-9.5cm * Attitude:-Complete extension * Presentation:-Face B.THE TRANSVERSE DIAMETER ARE:-

1. Bi parietal diameter:- * It extend between 2 parietal eminences. * Length:-9.5cm * Attitude:-irrespective of position of head this diameter always engages.

2. Bi temporal diameter:- * Distance between the anterior-inferior ends of the coronal suture. * Length:- 8.5 cm

FETAL SKULL CHANGES IN LABOUR
MOULDING
* It is the changes in shape of the head in vertex presentation during labour while passing through the resistant birth canal. * Mechanism:- Overlapping of cranial bones at the membranous joints due to compression of the engaging diameter of the head * It is physiological, harmless and disappears within a few hours after birth.

GRADING * Grade 0:- the bones lies side by side having an intervening membrane * Grade +:- the bone touching but not overlapping * Grade++:- overlapping but easily separated by pressure * Grade+++:- fixed overlapping and cannot be separated.

CAPUT SUCCEDANEUM * It is localized area of edema on fetal scalp on vertex presentation due to pressure effect of dilating cervical ring and vaginal introitus. * Characteristics:-
It is physiological, present at birth and disappears within 24 hours.
It is soft, diffuse and pits on pressure. No underlying skull bone fracture. * Mechanism:-
Pressure effect of dilated cervical ring and vaginal introitus on descending head interference normal venous return and lymphatic drainage stagnation of fluid appearance of swelling in the scalp
CEPHALHEMATOMA
It is a collection of blood between periosteum and skull bone which is limited by the periosteal attachments at the suture lines.
Characteristics:-
Appears after 12 hours of birth.
Limited by suture lines.
Tends to grow larger.
Disappears within 6-8 weeks.
It is circumscribed, soft and non pitting.
May be associated with skull bone fracture.
Treatment:- No treatment required. The blood is absorbed and the swelling subside.

CAPUT SUCCEDANEUM | CEPHAL HAEMATOMA | 1. Present at birth on normal vaginal delivery. | 1. Appears within a few days after birth on normal or forceps delivery. | 2. May lie on sutures, not well defined | 2. Well defined by suture, gradually developing hard edge. | 3. Soft, pits on pressure | 3. soft, elastic but does not pits on pressure. | 4. Skin ecchymotic. | 4. No skin change. | 5. Size largest at birth , gradually subsides within a day. | 5. Become largest after birth and then disappears within 6-8 weeks to few months. | 6. No underlying skull bone fracture. | 6. May underlying skull bone fracture | 7. No treatment required | 7. No treatment required |