Question

Which of the fontanelle is the last to close?

• A. Anterolateral
• B. Anterior
• C. Lateral
• D. Occipital

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

The fontanelles, also known as soft spots on a baby's skull, close at different times after birth. The main fontanelles include the anterior, posterior (occipital), anterolateral, and posterolateral (lateral) fontanelles. The timing of their closure is clinically significant as it relates to a child's development.

Among the mentioned options, the sequence typically goes as follows:

• Posterior (Occipital) fontanelle closes first, usually by 2 to 3 months of age.
• Anterolateral fontanelles generally close sometime around 6 months of age.
• Posterolateral (Lateral) fontanelles often close by approximately 1 to 2 years of age.
• Anterior fontanelle is the largest and closes last, typically between 12 and 18 months, but it can take up to 24 months in some children.

Therefore, the correct answer is the Anterior fontanelle, as it is the last to close.