Fontanelles and Skull Sutures

Fontanelles are soft spots on an infant's skull where cranial bones have not yet fused. These gaps allow the skull to change shape during birth and accommodate brain growth in the first year. There are several types of fontanelles, each located at different junctions of cranial sutures. Over time, these fontanelles close as the bones ossify, with specific timelines for each type.

What is the primary function of fontanelles in an infant's skull?

• To protect the brain from injury

• To allow the skull to change shape during birth

• To provide a place for hair growth

• To support the infant's neck

Where is the posterior fontanelle located?

• Between the sphenoid and temporal bones

• Between the occipital and parietal bones

• At the junction of the sagittal and lambdoid sutures

• Between the frontal and parietal bones

Which fontanelle is located between the sphenoid, parietal, temporal, and frontal bones?

• Sphenoidal fontanelle

• Posterior fontanelle

• Mastoid fontanelle

• Anterior fontanelle

What shape is the anterior fontanelle?

• Oval-shaped

• Triangle-shaped

• Square-shaped

• Diamond-shaped

How do fontanelles assist during childbirth?

• By providing a cushion for the brain

• By allowing the skull to expand

• By enabling the skull to change shape

• By supporting the neck muscles

What happens to the sutures in the skull over time?

• They become more flexible

• They gain minerals and harden

• They disappear completely

• They remain unchanged

At what age does the posterior fontanelle typically close?

• 6 to 18 months

• 12 to 18 months

• 6 months

• 2 to 3 months

When does the anterior fontanelle usually close?

• 2 to 3 months

• 12 to 18 months

• 6 to 18 months

• 6 months