Irem Aymelek; Alpen Ortug & Gursel Ortug

Cranial sutures show significant anatomical variation across populations and are clinically relevant in craniofacial assessment. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of co-presence of the metopic suture and the premaxillary suture in adult dry skulls from Anatolian region, to classify metopic suture morphology (V, H, L), to evaluate its relationship with cranial index (CI), and to assess the presence of accompanying accessory bones. Among ninety seven adult Anatolian crania, a metopic suture was identified in 31 specimens (15 males, 16 females). Partial metopism was observed in 74.2 % (n = 23) and complete metopism in 25.8 % (n = 8), with no sex difference. In crania with partial metopism, the L type was most common (39.1 %, n = 9), followed by the V type (34.8 %, n = 8) and the H type (26.1 %, n = 6). A premaxillary suture was present in 22.6 % of metopic crania (n = 7), with no significant differences by sex (26.7 % in males, 18.8 % in females) and no association with cranial index. Accessory bones were detected in 54.8 % (n = 17) and were not associated with sex, metopism status, or cranial index. In conclusion, CI was not a significant predictor of premaxillary suture presence. These findings provide baseline prevalence data for metopism, persistent premaxillary suture, and accessory cranial bones in an adult Anatolian sample and may inform anatomical and clinical interpretation.

KEY WORDS: Anatomy; Craniofacial abnormalities; Cranial traits; Metopic suture; Metopism; Osteologic analysis; Premaxillary suture.

AYMELEK, I.; ORTUG, A. & ORTUG, G. Prevalence of metopism with persistent premaxillary suture and accessory bones in adult Anatolian crania. Int. J. Morphol., 44(4):1165-1173, 2026.