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Normal Development of the Skull and Brain

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Common Neurosurgical Conditions in the Pediatric Practice

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Abstract

The cranial vault or neurocranium encloses the brain, meninges, and cerebrospinal fluid. The single most important stimulus for head growth during infancy and childhood is brain growth, and this will be a recurrent theme when trying to consider the driving forces behind many neurosurgical or central nervous system-related findings in your young patients. In the subsequent chapters, we will systematically introduce some pathologic conditions pertaining to the intersection of brain and skull development throughout adolescence. The abnormally large head, small head, and misshapen heads are all of concern to parents and medical care providers alike. In this chapter we will introduce a framework of thinking to use as a reference tool when evaluating your patients. In the subsequent chapter, we will provide a simple and yet comprehensive framework for the pediatric neurologic examination and then begin our journey through the various manifestations of normal, gone awry.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Ibn Sina Hospital, Al Asimah, Kuwait

    Waleed A. Azab M.D.

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  1. Waleed A. Azab M.D.
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Correspondence to Waleed A. Azab M.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Associate Professor of Neurological Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA

    Jeffrey P. Greenfield

  2. Manhattan Pediatrics, New York, New York, USA

    Caroline B. Long

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Azab, W.A. (2017). Normal Development of the Skull and Brain. In: Greenfield, J., Long, C. (eds) Common Neurosurgical Conditions in the Pediatric Practice. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-3807-0_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-3807-0_1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-3805-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-3807-0

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