Question
Today, after giving birth to my baby in the hospital, the doctor mentioned the fontanelle. What is the fontanelle and what is its function?
Answer
The fontanelle is a part of the protection for brain growth and development, located at the front and back junction of the head. The surface is the scalp, below which lies the meninges, then the brain and cerebrospinal fluid. The main function of the fontanelle is to provide enough space for the brain to grow and adapt to external pressures. Normally, when an infant sits up, the fontanelle will slightly indent. Some people believe that the fontanelle should not be touched, even claiming that touching it can cause an infant to lose voice, but this is a mistaken notion. The fontanelle needs to be cleaned regularly like the other parts of the scalp, but with gentleness during cleaning.