anterior fontanelle suture closes
Between the parietal bone and the occipital bone lies the lamboid suture. Anteriorly, at the confluence of the metopic, coronal and sagittal sutures is the anterior fontanelle. Posteriorly, at the confluence of the superior median, lamboid and sagittal sutures is the posterior fontanelle. He was noted to have a 3 millimeter anterior fontanelle opening. The past medical history was negative. The family history revealed no birth defect, congenital or neurological abnormalities. The review of systems showed normal vision, hearing and development by his parents report. Fontanels (definition) spaces between the developing cranial bones that allow the bones to overlap during birth and also allow for growth of the brain. Sutures (definition) immovable joints that form when the fontanels close around 2 years of age. List of Fontanels. The ossification of the bones of the skull causes the anterior fontanelle to close over by 9 to 18 months. The sphenoidal and posterior fontanelles close during the first few months of life. The closures eventually form the sutures of the neurocranium. A fontanelle (or fontanel) (colloquially, soft spot) is an anatomical feature of the infant human skull comprising any of the soft membranous gaps (sutures) between the cranial bones that make up the calvaria of a fetus or an infant. The posterior fontanelle generally closes 2 to 3 months after birth; The sphenoidal fontanelle is the next to close around 6 months after birth; The mastoid fontanelle closes next from 6 to 18 months after birth; and. The anterior fontanelle is generally the last to close between 18–24 months. The types of craniosynostosis depend on what sutures join together early. 1  Sagittal synostosis– The sagittal suture runs along the top of the head, from the baby’s soft spot near the front of the head to the back of the head. When this suture closes too early, the baby’s head will grow long and narrow (scaphocephaly). It is the most common type of craniosynostosis. The diagnosis of upper respiratory infection with a small anterior fontanelle was made. He was to return for his regular health maintenance visits for follow-up. Figure 36 -AP and lateral radiographs of the skull show the coronal, lambdoid and sagittal sutures to be patent. There is no evidence of craniosynostosis. Anterior Fontanelle Junction of coronal Suture and sagittal Suture. Mean newborn size: 2.1 cm (larger in black infants) and may range up to 3-6 cm diameter. Often enlarges in first few months of life. Closes between 4 to 26 months (median 13.8 months) Closes by 3 months in 1% of infants. Closes by 24 months in 96% of infants. These images are a random sampling from a Bing search on the term Fontanelle.. Click on the image (or right click) to open the source website in a new browser window. Search Bing for all related images.
The anterior fontanelle is generally the last to close between 18–24 months.