Fontanelles
Fontanelles ( 5 Questions)
A nurse is educating a group of parents about the functions of the fontanelles.
Which of the following statements by the nurse are correct? (Select all that apply.
The fontanelles are soft spots on a baby’s head that have two main functions: • They allow for rapid growth of the brain during infancy • They allow for passage of the head through the birth canal by enabling the bony plates of the skull to flex
The fontanelles are soft spots on a baby’s head that have two main functions: • They allow for rapid growth of the brain during infancy • They allow for passage of the head through the birth canal by enabling the bony plates of the skull to flex
The fontanelles are soft spots on a baby’s head that have two main functions: • They allow for rapid growth of the brain during infancy • They allow for passage of the head through the birth canal by enabling the bony plates of the skull to flex
The fontanelles are soft spots on a baby’s head that have two main functions: • They allow for rapid growth of the brain during infancy • They allow for passage of the head through the birth canal by enabling the bony plates of the skull to flex
The fontanelles are soft spots on a baby’s head that have two main functions: • They allow for rapid growth of the brain during infancy • They allow for passage of the head through the birth canal by enabling the bony plates of the skull to flex
The fontanelles are soft spots on a baby’s head that have two main functions:
• They allow for rapid growth of the brain during infancy
• They allow for passage of the head through the birth canal by enabling the bony plates of the skull to flex
Choice A is wrong because the fontanelles do not allow for passage of blood from the scalp to the brain. The blood supply to the brain is provided by the internal carotid and vertebral arteries, which enter the skull through different openings
The fontanelles also allow for assessment of hydration status and intracranial pressure in infants by palpating their size and shape. A sunken fontanelle may indicate dehydration, while a bulging fontanelle may indicate increased pressure within the skull