fontanelle Definition
- 1a space between the bones of the skull in an infant or fetus, where ossification is not complete and the sutures not fully formed
- 2a small fontanelle-like opening in some shells
Using fontanelle: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "fontanelle" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The doctor checked the baby's fontanelle to make sure it was not sunken.
Example
The fontanelle usually closes by the time the baby is 18 months old.
Example
The turtle shell had a small fontanelle-like opening on the top.
fontanelle Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for fontanelle
- soft spot
- skull opening
Origins of fontanelle
from French 'fontanelle', diminutive of 'fontaine' meaning 'fountain'
Summary: fontanelle in Brief
A 'fontanelle' [fɒntəˈnɛl] is a space between the bones of an infant's or fetus's skull where ossification is not complete and the sutures are not fully formed. It is also used to describe a small fontanelle-like opening in some shells. An example sentence is 'The doctor checked the baby's fontanelle to make sure it was not sunken.'
