Anatomy

Cranial Fontanelles

Any of six membrane-covered openings between the CRANIAL SUTURES in the incompletely ossified skull of the fetus or newborn infant. The fontanelles normally close sometime after birth.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

Any of six membrane-covered openings between the CRANIAL SUTURES in the incompletely ossified skull of the fetus or newborn infant. The fontanelles normally close sometime after birth.

MeSH Record

Classification

Broader headings

Related Concepts

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MeSH Record

Synonyms

39 entry terms
  • Cranial Fontanel
  • Cranial Fontanelle
  • Cranial Fontanels
  • Fontanel, Cranial
  • Fontanelle, Cranial
  • Fontanelles, Cranial
  • Fontanels, Cranial
  • Anterior Fontanel
  • Anterior Fontanelle
  • Mastoid Fontanel
  • Mastoid Fontanelle
  • Posterior Fontanel
  • Posterior Fontanelle
  • Sphenoidal Fontanel
  • Sphenoidal Fontanelle
  • Anterior Fontanelles
  • Anterior Fontanels
  • Fontanel, Anterior
  • Fontanel, Mastoid
  • Fontanel, Posterior
  • Fontanel, Sphenoidal
  • Fontanelle, Anterior
  • Fontanelle, Mastoid
  • Fontanelle, Posterior
  • Fontanelle, Sphenoidal
  • Fontanelles, Anterior
  • Fontanelles, Mastoid
  • Fontanelles, Posterior
  • Fontanelles, Sphenoidal
  • Fontanels, Anterior
  • Fontanels, Mastoid
  • Fontanels, Posterior
  • Fontanels, Sphenoidal
  • Mastoid Fontanelles
  • Mastoid Fontanels
  • Posterior Fontanelles
  • Posterior Fontanels
  • Sphenoidal Fontanelles
  • Sphenoidal Fontanels

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

24 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings abnormalities, anatomy & histology, blood supply, chemistry, cytology, diagnostic imaging, drug effects, embryology, enzymology, growth & development, immunology, injuries, innervation, metabolism, microbiology, parasitology, pathology, physiology, physiopathology, radiation effects, surgery, transplantation, ultrastructure, virology.

MeSH Record

History Note

2009

MeSH Record

Previous Indexing

  • Cranial Sutures (1980-2008)
  • Skull (1963-2008)

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Number

  1. A02w.835w.232w.781w.175w

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Cranial Fontanelles. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D055762. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D055762
  2. Cranial Fontanelles. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fontanelle
  3. Cranial Fontanelles. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q752693