The cranial base in anencephaly and microcephaly studied histologically.
A histological microradiographical analysis was carried out on the cranial base removed at autopsy from three infants--two with microcephalia, one with anencephalia. The histological findings were compared with those from normal individuals of the same age. It was shown that a reduced size of the brain was accompanied by a change in the remodeling pattern of the internal as well as the external surface of the cranial base, leading to a flattening of the cranial base. The findings further suggest that the development of the brain influences the ossification of the chondrocranium.
D000757:Anencephaly / Q000473:pathology*; D001344:Autopsy; D001848:Bone Diseases, Developmental / Q000473:pathology; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008831:Microcephaly / Q000473:pathology*; D012886:Skull / Q000473:pathology*