Question

Which of the following is true of the skulls of infants and children?

a. At birth fusion is complete with all sutures fully formed.
b. The skull bones are connected by fatty tissue ares called fontanels, which allow the skull to flex during birth.
c. The anterior fontanel, found at the intersection of the frontal, sagital and coronal sutures, persists for nearly 2 years.

Answer 1

The correct answer is option b. The skull bones are connected by fatty tissue ares called fontanels, which allow the skull to flex during birth.

Step-by-step explanation:

In newborns and infants, the skull bones are connected by fontanels, which are broad areas of connective tissue between the bones. Fontanels provide flexibility to the skull, allowing the bones to push closer together or overlap slightly during birth.

This helps the infant's head pass through the birth canal. After birth, fontanels allow for rapid growth and enlargement of the skull. The anterior fontanel, located at the intersection of the frontal, sagittal, and coronal sutures, persists for nearly 2 years before eventually closing.

Fusion of the skull bones at the sutures occurs later in life through a process called synostosis.