Fontana (Fontanelle)

Fontaneles are areas where several bones of the skull meet in a fetus or newborn child. They are closed by connective tissue plates after birth. However, these plates do not completely ossify, allowing the fontanelles to remain open and function as openings for the circulation of cerebrospinal fluid.

The anterior fontanel is formed between the coronal, frontal and sagittal sutures. It is the largest and is located at the top of the head. The posterior fontanelle is formed between the sagittal and lambdoid sutures and is located in the lower part of the head. Both fontanelles close soon after birth and usually by 1-2 months of age.

The fontanelles play an important role in the development of the child's brain and nervous system. They allow cerebrospinal fluid to circulate freely throughout the brain and prevent fluid buildup that can cause problems in infants. In addition, fontanelles provide flexibility to the brain and allow it to adapt to changes in the environment.

However, there are some conditions that can affect the closure of the fontanelles. For example, hydrocephalus (excess cerebrospinal fluid) or traumatic brain injury can cause the fontanelles to be delayed in closing and become enlarged. In such cases, observation and treatment by a doctor is required.

Overall, the fontanelles are important areas of a baby's skull that play an important role in their development and health. They should close by 1-2 months of age, but in some cases they may linger or increase in size. If you have any questions or concerns about your baby's fontanel closure, it is recommended that you contact your pediatrician.

fontanel

The fontanelle is a section of a newborn’s skull that is a continuation of the sutures between the bones. When a child is born, his skull consists of two parts: the frontal and parietal. There are sutures between them that divide the skull into two parts. But these sutures have not yet completely closed, so between the frontal and parietal parts there is a fontanel or birth tumor.

Anatomy of the fontanel

The fontanel region consists of several bones of the skull, which are connected by elastic tissue. This elastic tissue is called a membrane. For this reason, the fontanel is also called a membrane or a layer of membrane. The younger the child, the larger the area of ​​the fontanel. In infants, this area makes up approximately 13% of the total cranial area. During the first year of life, the fontanel gradually decreases and becomes covered with bone tissue. This process is called ossification. The fontanelle finally ossifies only by the age of three.

Anterior fontanelle (anterior fontanel)

The anterior fontanel is located in the very center of the child's forehead. It is formed at the point where the coronoid, lambdoid (Lambdal bone) and sagittal sutures join. The parietal part of the skull rests on the frontal part, which reduces the pressure between these two parts of the skull. Because the baby's head is protected by the skull, it has some space inside it. This means that even though the skull is still soft, the space between it is filled with fluid, which helps prevent damage to the brain. The anterior spring does not close completely until the baby's head has fully entered the environment, requiring him to pass through a tunnel. Therefore, sometimes it happens that the front spring area is closed on both sides, and the area near the head itself is not covered with bone and may look like a hole. Such areas are called closed sutures of the anterior spring. This is usually not a problem and goes away within a short time after birth.

Posterior fontanel

The posterior fontanel is formed at the junction of the sagittal and lambosoid sutures. It is less important than the anterior fontanelle, but still serves a protective function. Sometimes the fontanel area remains open into adulthood. This phenomenon is called the “posterior fontanel orifice.”

The main reasons for the closure of fontanelles in newborns

Fontana (fontanelle, Latin fonticulus “fontanelle”) are non-ossifying sutures at the junction of two cranial bones. In humans, there are 4 of them: two anterior ones (the anterior fontanel is closed in an adult, the posterior one is open); two posterior ones (the posterior fontanel is open in an adult, the anterior one is closed). The largest anterior fontanelles form the frontal suture: a large fontanel appears at the junction of the parietal bones in the area of ​​the lambdoid suture; at the junction of the coronal and lambdoid sutures there is a small fontanelle. Also, each person has a small amount of bone tissue between the individual cranial bones (the non-ossified part