Final answer:
A serrate suture is characterized by interlocking, saw-toothed edges that tightly connect adjacent bones of the skull, providing substantial protection for the brain. Over time, these sutures may ossify, leading to bone fusion in a process known as synostosis.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertains to the description of the edges found in a type of suture known as a serrate suture. Sutures are the fibrous joints that connect the bones in the skull.
A serrate suture is characterized by its saw-toothed, interlocking edges, which strongly unite adjacent bones and provide significant protection for the brain. This pattern of suture is one of several types, including lap, plane, and squamous sutures, each with its own distinct edge profiles.
In the context of the human skull, sutures such as the coronal, sagittal, and lambdoid sutures represent fibrous joints filled with connective tissue that usually allow for little to no movement, firmly locking the skull bones into place.
These sutures evolve over time, from being broader areas in infants, known as fontanelles, to more rigid, interlocked sutures in adults. With age, some sutures may ossify completely in a process called synostosis, leading to the fusion of the bones.