Do adults have a open fontanell? (soft spot?)?

Question

I say that the fontanells are fused together like by the age of six or so and my brother in law says that no, even adults have a soft spot. I know that there are more sesitive areas on the skull that aren't as well as protected, like at the base of the skull, but i am talking about the ones that you are born with that colapse so you can come throught the birth canal.

Answer 1

No, we don't have an actual soft spot like babies. We do have spots that are more sensitive and not as tough as the rest of the skull, but we do not have actual open spots like babies do.

Answer 2

This is what a ped said about the 'soft spot' - which indicates to me that there is no way 1) it should still be open by age 6 and therefore, an adult would not have one either.

When should it close?
A soft spot is closed when the opening can no longer be felt. The soft spot commonly closes at 18 months of age, but it could close any time between the ages of 5 and 26 months.

If your child reaches 27 months of age and the soft spot is not closed, your child needs to be checked by your health care provider. A soft spot that closes before a child reaches 5 months of age is very rare. This is called premature closure of the fontanel and may also need to be checked by your health care provider.

If an adult has a soft spot, it's probably where he fell when he got juiced up....lol just kidding...

Answer 3

No babies are born with two soft spots. In human anatomy, a fontanelle (or fontanel) is one of two "soft spots" on a newborn human's skull. There are, however, two more fontanelles of interest, the mastoid fontanelle, and the sphenoidal fontanelle.

Fontanelles are soft spots on a baby's head which, during birth, enable the soft bony plates of the skull to flex, allowing the head to pass through the birth canal. Fontanelles are usually completely hardened by a child's second birthday.

The skull of a newborn consists of five main bones: two frontal bones, two parietal bones, and one occipital bone. These are joined by fibrous sutures, which allow movement that facilitates childbirth and brain growth.

At birth, the skull features a small posterior fontanelle, an open area covered by a tough membrane, where the two parietal bones adjoin the occipital bone (at the lambda). This fontanelle usually closes during the first several months of an infant's life.

There is also a much larger, diamond-shaped anterior fontanelle where the two frontal and two parietal bones abut. This fontanelle remains open until the child is about two years of age. In cleidocranial dysostosis it is often late in closing or never closes.

The anterior fontanelle is useful clinically. Examination of an infant includes palpating the anterior fontanelle. A sunken fontanelle indicates dehydration, whereas a very tense or bulging anterior fontanelle indicates raised intracranial pressure.

Answer 4

We do not have that soft spot like it was when we were born, but it may be a little more delicate in that spot, it can still be there but way more unnoticeable, due to ours closing. A baby has a soft spot because when its born it helps then head out so it won't be smooshed, plus it also is there since that is one of the last formations to close.

Answer 5

The soft spots are completely closed by the age of 2.

Answer 6

I have one.. it is sunk in about 1/2 to 1 inch with soft spot in the middle on my left side of my skull .. just find it .. and cant get an answer on here AT ALL....

Answer 7

No only babies have soft spots which eventually close up

Answer 8

Lestermount

Answer 9

I'm gonna have to admit. Born To Make You Happy is a guilty pleasure of mine.

Answer 10

Hi,

No adults dont have them at all. They dont close at 6 either much earlier. Around 1.5 years old.