The top of the head has names rooted in both precise scientific language and everyday terminology. This dome-like structure, known as the calvaria, protects the brain. Understanding this area requires distinguishing between a specific anatomical point and the broader bony structure that creates the highest curve.
The Anatomical Terminus: The Vertex
The most precise anatomical term for the very top of the head is the Vertex. This designation refers to the most superior point on the skull when the head is positioned in the standard anatomical orientation, known as the Frankfort plane. The Frankfort plane aligns the lower edge of the eye socket with the top of the external ear canal, establishing a horizontal baseline. The Vertex is a midline bony landmark situated roughly at the halfway point along the long joint that runs from front to back across the skull. This location makes the Vertex a standard craniometric point used by medical professionals and anthropologists for precise measurements.
A nearby and more specific landmark is the Bregma, a distinct point of convergence for three major skull joints. The Bregma marks where the frontal bone meets the two parietal bones along the coronal and sagittal sutures. This location corresponds to the anterior fontanelle, or “soft spot,” in an infant’s skull, which typically fuses around 18 months after birth. The Bregma’s precise location is often used as a reference point for stereotactic surgical procedures on the brain.
The Underlying Bony Structure
The structure directly beneath the Vertex is primarily formed by the Parietal Bones, a pair of flat, curved bones. These two bones constitute a large portion of the roof and sides of the upper skull, providing protection for the brain tissue. Their external surface is smooth and convex, while the internal surface is marked with grooves that house blood vessels. The Parietal Bones articulate with the frontal bone at the front, the occipital bone at the back, and the temporal bones on the sides.
The two Parietal Bones meet along the midline of the skull, connected by a rigid, interlocking joint called the Sagittal Suture. This serrated fusion line runs vertically down the length of the skull’s top surface. The Vertex is located directly over the Sagittal Suture, near its midpoint, showing that the top of the head is an intersection of two large protective plates. These sutures remain flexible during infancy, allowing for slight movement during birth and accommodating rapid brain growth before fusing in adulthood.
Common and Cultural Names
Beyond the scientific terms, the top of the head is known by several common and colloquial names. The most widely used informal term is The Crown, often associated with royalty or the highest point of an object. Another historically recognized term is The Pate, which simply means the top of the head.
This superior region of the scalp is also associated with a unique feature of hair growth known as the hair whorl, or sometimes a cowlick. The hair whorl is the spiral pattern where the hair follicles align and radiate outward from a central point. While “Crown” and “Pate” refer to the general region, the hair whorl highlights a consistent anatomical feature of the scalp.