During cranial flexion, what happens to the anterior-posterior diameter?

Prepare for the OMM 6 Cranial Evaluation and Treatment Test. Use flashcards and multiple-choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

Multiple Choice

During cranial flexion, what happens to the anterior-posterior diameter?

Explanation:
In cranial flexion the skull shortens front-to-back as the sphenoid and occiput rotate about the sphenobasilar synchondrosis and move closer along the anterior-posterior axis. This brings the midline bones toward each other, reducing the anterior-posterior diameter. The opposite happens in extension, where the AP diameter lengthens. A helpful cue is that flexion tends to increase transverse width while shortening the AP span.

In cranial flexion the skull shortens front-to-back as the sphenoid and occiput rotate about the sphenobasilar synchondrosis and move closer along the anterior-posterior axis. This brings the midline bones toward each other, reducing the anterior-posterior diameter. The opposite happens in extension, where the AP diameter lengthens. A helpful cue is that flexion tends to increase transverse width while shortening the AP span.

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