During cranial flexion, what happens to the transverse diameter of the cranium?

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 transverse diameter of the cranium?

Explanation:
During cranial flexion the cranial bones rotate outward and the sutures relax enough for the parietal bones to move slightly apart at the sides. This outward spreading broadens the cranial vault, so the distance across the skull from one side to the other—the transverse diameter—increases. By contrast, extension lengthens the skull vertically and narrows the width, so the transverse dimension is reduced in that phase. Thus, flexion specifically increases the transverse diameter.

During cranial flexion the cranial bones rotate outward and the sutures relax enough for the parietal bones to move slightly apart at the sides. This outward spreading broadens the cranial vault, so the distance across the skull from one side to the other—the transverse diameter—increases. By contrast, extension lengthens the skull vertically and narrows the width, so the transverse dimension is reduced in that phase. Thus, flexion specifically increases the transverse diameter.

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