On application of fractal analysis to cranial sutures

Abstract

Fractal exponents ($d$) for human cranial sutures are calculated using the box counting method. The results were found around $d = 1.5$ (within the range $1.3\div 1.7$), supporting the random walk model for the suture formation process. However, the calculated dispersion above the estimated accuracy suggests that other mechanisms are also present. Similar numbers were obtained for both the sagittal and coronal sutures, with the coronal sutures displaying a better scaling. Our results are compared with estimations published by other authors.