Fontanelle Anatomy

The anterior or frontal fontanelle or fontanel is the diamond shaped soft membranous gap at the junction of the coronal and sagittal sutures. Fontanelle soft spot anatomy a membrane covered region on the skull of a fetusinfant which corresponds to the convergence of suture lines where ossification has not yet occurred fontanel fontanelle fŏntă nĕl fr.

Embryology Anatomy Normal Findings And Imaging Techniques

Fontanel also spelled fontanelle soft spot in the skull of an infant covered with tough fibrous membrane.

Fontanelle anatomy. Six fontanelles are present during infancy with the most notable being the anterior and posterior fontanelles. Two smaller fontanelles are located on each side of the head more anteriorly. The fontanelle enables the skull in order to change its shape at the time of birth for facilitating its passage via the birth canal and also for enlargement of the brain after birth.

They allow for molding of the fetal head during passage through the birth canal. It persists until approximately 18 24 months after birth after which it is known as the bregma. Fontanelles often referred to as soft spots are one of the most prominent anatomical features of the newborns skull.

Fontanelle morphology may vary between infants but characteristically they are flat and firm. Structure posterior fontanelle is triangle shaped. Fontanelle little fountain.

There are six such spots at the junctions of the cranial bones. Anterior fontanelle is a diamond shaped membrane filled space located between the two frontal. It lies at the junction between the sagittal suture and lambdoid suture.

Those at the sides of the head are irregularly shaped and located at the unions.

Neonatal Skull Features Fontanelles Its Importance Growth Of The Skull