Fontanelle refers to which of the following?

• A. First stool of newborn
• B. Soft spot on infant skull
• C. White protective coating on newborn
• D. Shaping of the infant skull during birth

Answer: (B)

Fontanelles are the soft spots on an infant's skull where the bones have not yet fused and are separated by membranes. This arrangement allows the skull to mold and compress a bit as the head passes through the birth canal and later provides room for rapid brain growth during infancy. The most noticeable fontanelle sits on top of the head and is diamond-shaped, with the smaller one at the back closing earlier. The other items describe different newborn features: the first stool is meconium, the white coating is vernix caseosa, and molding refers to the temporary overlapping of skull bones during birth, not a fontanelle.