West Coast EMT Block One Exam

What are the areas of the infant's skull that have not yet fused together called?

1. Fontanelles.

2. Cranial valleys.

3. Sutures.

4. Ventricles.

The correct answer is: Fontanelles.

The areas of an infant's skull that have not yet fused together are called fontanelles. Fontanelles are soft spots on a baby's skull that allow for growth and expansion of the brain during the early stages of life. They are crucial during childbirth as they enable the skull to compress slightly, making it easier for the baby to pass through the birth canal. These areas of unfused bone will eventually close as the skull matures, typically within the first 18 months to 2 years of life, allowing for the formation of a rigid cranial structure. Cranial valleys do not refer to any specific anatomical structure within the context of the skull and are not a recognized term in medical terminology regarding the anatomy of the skull. Sutures, while related to the joints between the bones of the skull, refer specifically to the fibrous joints that connect neighboring skull bones, and not to the unfused areas themselves. Ventricles refer to the cavities within the brain that contain cerebrospinal fluid, which is unrelated to the structure of the skull.