The lambda is the meeting point of the sagittal suture and the lambdoid suture. This is also the point of the occipital angle. It is named after the Greek letter lambda.

Lambda (anatomy)
Side view of head, showing surface relations of bones. (Lambda labeled at center right.)
Details
PrecursorPosterior fontanelle
Part ofSkull, sagittal suture, lambdoid suture
SystemSkeletal
Identifiers
TA98A02.1.00.017
TA2419
FMA264773
Anatomical terminology

Structure

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The sagittal and lamboid sutures.

The lambda is the meeting point of the sagittal suture and the lambdoid suture. It may be the exact midpoint of the lambdoid suture, but often deviates slightly from the midline.[1] This is also the point of the occipital angle.

Development

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In the foetus, the lambda is membranous, and is called the posterior fontanelle.[citation needed]

Etymology

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The lambda is named after the Greek letter lambda, whose lowercase form (λ) resembles the junction formed by the sutures.

References

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  This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 135 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

  1. ^ Paxinos, George; Watson, Charles; Penisi, Michael; Topple, Ann (April 1985). "Bregma, lambda and the interaural midpoint in stereotaxic surgery with rats of different sex, strain and weight". Journal of Neuroscience Methods. 13 (2): 139–143. doi:10.1016/0165-0270(85)90026-3. ISSN 0165-0270. PMID 3889509. S2CID 36734348 – via ScienceDirect.
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  • lesson1 at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University)