Fontanelle

High school (ages 12+)
Human Body

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/fontanelle

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific name?Fontanelle (plural: fontanelles)
2. What is the anatomical classification?Unossified gaps between cranial bones of the fetal and infant skull
3. Why do babies have soft spots on their heads?The soft spots let the skull bend a little when the baby is born, and they give the brain room to grow quickly.
4. How long does the soft spot stay open?The back soft spot usually closes by about 2 to 3 months old, while the front one stays open until the baby is about 12 to 24 months old.

Calvaria: The upper, dome-shaped part of the skull that encloses the brain.
Parturition: The medical term for the process of childbirth or giving birth.
Intracranial Pressure: The pressure inside the skull, exerted by the brain, cerebrospinal fluid, and blood.