Final answer:
Caput succedaneum is a condition where an edematous area forms on a newborn's head due to pressure against the cervix during delivery, distinguished by its ability to cross the midline unlike cephalohematoma. The correct option is b.
Step-by-step explanation:
The condition where an edematous area forms on a newborn's head, which is sometimes seen with pressure against the cervix during delivery, is known as caput succedaneum. This condition may cross the midline, distinguishing it from other conditions such as cephalohematoma, which does not cross the midline. The soft spots on an infant's head, known as fontanels, allow the skull to change shape during birth, but caput succedaneum is specifically the swelling of the scalp. It's different from medical conditions affecting the skull shape, such as craniosynostosis, which is an early fusion of the sutures of the skull leading to deformation.