Anterior fontanelle
Last revised by Mohamed Saber ◉ on 11 Dec 2021
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Lall N, Saber M, Hacking C, et al. Anterior fontanelle. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 01 Oct 2023) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-62358
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rID:
62358
Article created:
14 Aug 2018, Neil Lall
Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Neil Lall had no recorded disclosures.
View Neil Lall's current disclosuresLast revised:
11 Dec 2021, Mohamed Saber ◉
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Mohamed Saber had no recorded disclosures.
View Mohamed Saber's current disclosuresRevisions:
11 times, by 5 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures
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Synonyms:
- Anterior fontanel
- Frontal fontanelle
- Frontal fontanel
The anterior or frontal fontanelle is the diamond-shaped soft membranous gap (fontanelle) at the junction of the coronal and sagittal sutures. It persists until approximately 18-24 months after birth, after which it is known as the bregma. The precise timing of the anterior fontanelle closure is quite variable, and the research literature shows cases of closure from 6 months that may represent a normal variation in healthy babies 2 although early or late closure of a fontanelle is associated with various pathologies 3. The fontanelle normally measures between 0.6-3.6 cm (mean 2.1 cm) 3. The size of the anterior fontanelle tends to vary predictably with age, peaking around 2 months 2. It is the largest of the fontanelles and is the main sonographic window for performing cranial ultrasound.
References
- 1. D'Antoni AV, Donaldson OI, Schmidt C, Macchi V, De Caro R, Oskouian RJ, Loukas M, Shane Tubbs R. A comprehensive review of the anterior fontanelle: embryology, anatomy, and clinical considerations. (2017) Child's nervous system : ChNS : official journal of the International Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery. 33 (6): 909-914. doi:10.1007/s00381-017-3406-1 - Pubmed
- 2. Jonathan Pindrik, Xiaobu Ye, Boram Grace Ji, Courtney Pendleton, Edward S. Ahn. Anterior Fontanelle Closure and Size in Full-Term Children Based on Head Computed Tomography:. (2014) Clinical Pediatrics. 53 (12): 1149-57. doi:10.1177/0009922814538492 - Pubmed
- 3. Kiesler J, Ricer R. The abnormal fontanel. (2003) American family physician. 67 (12): 2547-52. Pubmed
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