Foetal Skull and Maternal Pelvis

June 2016

Foetal Skull: Bones and Sutures• Skull bones are particularly delicate they and encase and protect the

brain but they are subjected to immense pressure as they pass through the birth canal.

Fontanelles

How does this knowledge help us?• Moulding: Movement in the sutures and fontanels allows the skull

bones to overlap each other to some extent as the head is forced down the birth canal by the contractions of the uterus. • Moulding can produce a pointed or flattened shape to the baby’s

head when it is born.

Diameters of skull• We have longitudinal and transverse diameters of the skull.

Attitude• Attitude refers to the degree of flexion and extension of the cervical

spine and this is related to the presentation of the foetal head. • The different diameters of the skull are presented during birth.

Maternal Pelvis

Pelvic Inlet

Diameters of Pelvic Inlet

Pelvic Cavity

Pelvic Outlet

Pelvic Types