Mastoid fontanelle - Skull - Cranium - e-Anatomy
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Mastoid fontanelle

Fonticulus mastoideus

  • Latin synonym: Fonticulus posterolateralis
  • Synonym: Posterolateral fontanelle

Definition

The mastoid fontanelle (a.k.a. the posterolateral fontanelle), is a pair of fontanelles located where the temporal, parietal, and occipital bones intersect.

The mastoid fontanelles typically close between six to eighteen months after birth. In adults, the closure point where the temporal, parietal, and occipital bones meet is referred to as the asterion.

References

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Text written by Muhammad A. Javaid, MD, PhD © 2024 IMAIOS.

  • Lipsett BJ, Reddy V, Steanson K. Anatomy, Head and Neck: Fontanelles. [Updated 2023 Jul 24]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK542197/

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