Sphenoidal Fontanel (Noun)
Meaning
The irregularly shaped area on either side of the cranium where the frontal bone and the anterior tip of the parietal bone and the temporal bone and the greater wing of the sphenoid bone meet; corresponds to the pterion when bones have ossified.
Classification
Nouns denoting body parts.
Examples
- The sphenoidal fontanel is located on either side of the fetal cranium, where several bones meet before ossifying into a solid structure.
- In fetal development, the sphenoidal fontanel serves as a flexible region between the frontal, parietal, temporal, and sphenoid bones.
- During infancy, the sphenoidal fontanel eventually ossifies to become the adult structure known as the pterion.
- Skull examination revealed underdeveloped sections, including an unusually large sphenoidal fontanel, which indicated delayed fetal development.
- Neonatal specialists closely monitor the closure of sphenoidal fontanel in infants to assess bone growth and address potential developmental issues.