anterior fontanel

Term ID

UBERON:0002510

Synonyms

• bregmatic fontanelle
• fonticulus anterior
• frontal fontanelle

Definition

In humans, the anterior fontanelle (bregmatic fontanelle, frontal fontanelle) is the largest, and is placed at the junction of the sagittal suture, coronal suture, and frontal suture; it is lozenge-shaped, and measures about 4 cm in its antero-posterior and 2.5 cm in its transverse diameter. The fontanelle allows the skull to deform during birth to ease its passage through the birth canal and for expansion of the brain after birth. While the posterior and lateral fontanelles are obliterated by about six months after birth, the anterior is not completely closed until about the middle of the second year. Full ossification starts in the late twenties and finishes before the age of 50 . [WP,unvetted]. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anterior_fontanelle

References

• Anterior:fontanelle
• EMAPA:19199
• MA:0002830
• http://www.snomedbrowser.com/Codes/Details/244680006

Ontology

Uberon Ontology