Scaphocephaly derived from the Greek skaphe (a light boat or skiff), describes a specific variety of a long narrow head that resembles an inverted boat.

It is a type of cephalic disorder

Cephalic disorder

Cephalic disorders are congenital conditions that stem from damage to, or abnormal development of, the budding nervous system...

 which occurs when there is a premature fusion of the sagittal suture

Sagittal suture

The sagittal suture is a dense, fibrous connective tissue joint between the two parietal bones of the skull. The term is derived from the Latin word Sagitta, meaning "arrow". The derivation of this term may be demonstrated by observing how the sagittal suture is notched posteriorly, like an arrow,...

. The sagittal suture joins together the two parietal bones of skull. Scaphocephaly is the most common of the craniosynostosis

Craniosynostosis

Craniosynostosis is a condition in which one or more of the fibrous sutures in an infant skull prematurely fuses by ossification, thereby changing the growth pattern of the skull...

conditions and is characterized by a long, narrow head.

External links

• The Healthy Little Heads Foundation ~ Non-Profit Foundation providing support and financial assistance for corrective treatments US
• NINDS Overview
• Illustration