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Measurements of anterior fontanelle during the fetal period
1Süleyman Demirel University, Medical Faculty, Department of Anatomy, Isparta, Turkey. mamalas@hotmail.com
Insights
The anterior fontanelle (the soft spot on a baby's head) gradually enlarges during fetal development, with a rapid increase in the third trimester. These measurements aid in understanding fetal skull growth and identifying potential developmental issues.
Area of Science:
- Fetal development
- Craniofacial anatomy
- Prenatal morphometrics
Background:
- The anterior fontanelle is a key anatomical landmark during fetal skull development.
- Understanding its growth patterns is crucial for assessing normal development and identifying potential abnormalities.
- Previous studies have provided limited data on anterior fontanelle dimensions throughout gestation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the morphometric development of the anterior fontanelle during the fetal period.
- To establish normative data for anterior fontanelle dimensions based on gestational age.
- To investigate potential sex-based differences in anterior fontanelle development.
Main Methods:
- Morphometric measurements of 105 human fetuses (11-40 weeks gestation).
- Recorded head circumference, length, and biparietal diameter.
- Measured anterior fontanelle transverse and longitudinal diameters to calculate size and area.
Main Results:
- Significant positive correlation found between gestational age and all measured parameters.
- Anterior fontanelle area increased with head circumference, with a sharp rise in the third trimester.
- No significant sex differences observed in measured or calculated parameters.
- Mean anterior fontanelle size was larger than reported in previous studies.
Conclusions:
- The anterior fontanelle exhibits significant growth throughout fetal development, particularly in the third trimester.
- Established dimensions provide valuable reference data for understanding fetal skull development and anatomical variations.
- These findings can assist in the diagnosis of cranial maldevelopment during the prenatal period.
Abstract:
In this study, we aimed to determine the development of the anterior fontanelle during the fetal period by morphometric measurements. One hundred and five (49 males, 56 females) human fetuses were obtained from Isparta Maternity and Pediatric Hospital. The gestational age ranged from 11 to 40 weeks. In all cases, head circumference, head length and biparietal diameter were recorded. The anterior fontanelle, transverse and longitudinal diameters were measured, and the mean anterior fontanelle size and the anterior fontanelle area were calculated. A significant positive correlation was found between the gestational age and all parameters. During the fetal period, the anterior fontanelle area gradually increased with head circumference. There was a sharp increase in third trimester in the area anterior fontanelle. In the present study, there was no significant difference between sexes regarding the all parameters measured or calculated. The mean anterior fontanelle size was larger than that recorded in previous studies for both sexes. As presented in our study, the dimensions of the anterior fontanelle for each gestational age will be useful in the understanding of development and anatomical variation. It may also be useful in the diagnosis of cranial maldevelopment.
