Caput Succedaneum is swelling of the newborn scalp.

• A. Caput Succedaneum
• B. Molding
• C. Fontanelle
• D. Vernix

Answer: (A)

Caput succedaneum is swelling of the newborn scalp caused by pressure of the birth canal during labor. This edema lies in the soft tissues of the scalp and, because it’s subcutaneous swelling, it crosses cranial suture lines. It is usually present at birth and typically resolves on its own within a few days without treatment. This differentiates it from molding, which is the temporary overlapping or shifting of the skull bones to adapt to the birth canal and changes the head’s shape rather than producing true scalp swelling. Fontanelle refers to the soft spots where sutures meet, not swelling, and vernix is the waxy protective coating on the skin, not a scalp edema.