Lambda (anatomy)

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
Precursor	Posterior fontanelle
Part of	Skull, sagittal suture, lambdoid suture
System	Skeletal
Identifiers
TA98	A02.1.00.017
TA2	419
FMA	264773
Anatomical terminology [edit on Wikidata]

Structure

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

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

Etymology

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