Question:

Which of the following fontanelles is the last to close?

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Posterior closes first; the large diamond-shaped anterior fontanelle is the last, by 18-24 months.
Updated On: Jun 23, 2026
  • Anterolateral
  • Anterior
  • Lateral
  • Occipital
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The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Fontanelles are membrane-covered gaps between the cranial bones of an infant that allow skull moulding during birth and brain growth afterwards. They ossify and close in a defined sequence.
Step 2: The order of closure is: posterior fontanelle by 2 to 3 months, sphenoidal (anterolateral) fontanelle by about 6 months, mastoid (posterolateral) fontanelle from 6 to 18 months, and the anterior fontanelle last.
Step 3: The anterior fontanelle, the large diamond-shaped gap at the junction of the coronal and sagittal sutures, normally closes between 18 and 24 months, making it the last to close.
Step 4: The other options close earlier or are alternative names for the lateral fontanelles, so they are not the latest. Hence option B (Anterior) is correct.
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