Question

When examining the head of a pediatric patient, which of the following statements is FALSE?

1) The fontanelles should be firm and flat.
2) The sutures should be open and flexible.
3) The head circumference should be measured at each visit.
4) The anterior fontanelle should close by 12 months of age.

Answer 1

When examining the head of a pediatric patient, the false statement is that the fontanelles should be firm and flat. Fontanelles should actually be soft and slightly sunken. The anterior fontanelle should close by 12 months of age.

Step-by-step explanation:

When examining the head of a pediatric patient, the false statement is that the fontanelles should be firm and flat. In reality, the fontanelles should be soft and slightly sunken. Fontanelles are the areas of connective tissue between the bones of the skull in newborns and infants. They are flexible and allow for rapid growth of the skull and enlargement of the brain. The anterior fontanelle, the diamond-shaped fontanelle at the top front of the head, should close by 12 months of age, not remain firm and flat. The sutures, which are the fibrous joints between the bones, should be open and flexible.