Asked by Rafael Summo on Jun 08, 2024
Verified
A mother brings her 2-month-old daughter in for an examination and says, "My daughter rolled over against the wall, and now I have noticed that she has this spot that is soft on the top of her head. Is something terribly wrong?" How should the nurse respond?
A) "Perhaps that could be a result of your dietary intake during pregnancy."
B) "Your baby may have craniosynostosis, a disease of the sutures of the skull."
C) "That 'soft spot' may be an indication of cretinism or congenital hypothyroidism."
D) "That 'soft spot' is normal, and actually allows for growth of the brain during the first year of your baby's life."
Craniosynostosis
A congenital condition where one or more of the fibrous sutures in an infant's skull prematurely fuses by turning into bone, affecting skull and brain growth.
Fontanels
Soft spots on a baby's skull where the bones haven't fused together yet, allowing for growth of the brain and skull.
Congenital Hypothyroidism
A condition present at birth characterized by an underactive thyroid gland, resulting in a lack of thyroid hormones which are crucial for growth and development.
- Understand the significance of soft spots (fontanels) in infants and their relation to brain growth and health conditions.
Verified Answer
NS
Naila SadiqJun 12, 2024
Final Answer :
D
Explanation :
Membrane-covered "soft spots" allow for growth of the brain during the first year of life. They gradually ossify; the triangular-shaped posterior fontanel is closed by 1 to 2 months, and the diamond-shaped anterior fontanel closes between 9 months and 2 years.
Learning Objectives
- Understand the significance of soft spots (fontanels) in infants and their relation to brain growth and health conditions.