Definition Fontanelles are the areas on the skull of a newborn or infant that are not covered by bone or cartilage. They consist of robust connective tissue and bridge the areas where the skull plates have not yet grown together. There are six fontanelles in total, which close at different times. As a rule, however, … Fontanelle
Function Fontanelles play an important role at birth. Since the child’s skull is pressed through a narrow birth canal, it must be able to deform somewhat. Since the skull plates are not fused together, but are connected to each other by the connective tissue fontanelles and sutures, they can shift against each other or over … Function | Fontanelle
Fontanel is convex/swollen outwards Since a fontanel, in contrast to the skull plates, does not represent a bony structure, a statement about the pressure conditions inside the head can be made by its curvature or depression. A normal fontanel in an upright sitting infant should be either flat or slightly sunken. In a lying position, … Fontanel is convex/swollen outwards | Fontanelle
