Why does the fontanelle pulsating

Skip Ribbon Commands. Skip to main content. Turn off Animations. Turn on Animations. Our Sponsors Log in Register. Log in Register. Ages and Stages. Healthy Living. Safety and Prevention. Family Life. Health Issues. Tips and Tools. Our Mission. But, after multiple replays of the video clip, I noticed something strange.

Only a small section on the top of his head was rhythmically beating, while the rest of his head remained still. The million dollar question is: why was only one part of his head throbbing? Or, to be specific, why was his head throbbing in the first place? What could explain such a bizarre phenomenon? Our skull is a not one solid surface, but is made up of multiple bones joined together. Fibrous material, called sutures, connect the bones together.

These look similar to the stitches a doctor makes to close up wounds on your body! When babies are born, their skulls have large gaps between these bones. These gaps are called fontanelles. Babies have two main fontanelles: one at the front fontanel and a smaller one at the back posterior fontanelle.

The posterior fontanelle closes up within 6 weeks of birth. The fontanel takes longer to close: taking from 9 to up to 18 months. Photo by Xxjamesxx via Wikimedia Commons. When the heart delivers blood to the head, the pulsation becomes visible as no bony material is covering that area. The timing of fontanelle closure is critical. But your pediatrician may suggest an imaging test to make sure the fontanelle is still open. Occasionally, though, the skull bones do close earlier than normal on one side, causing craniosynostosis.

Depending on which bones fused, the baby may develop an abnormal head shape. For example, sagittal craniosynostosis, the most common form, results in a longer head that is shaped somewhat like a football.

What you should do: Children with craniosynostosis may need surgery to open the fused bones and reshape the skull. In some cases, the child will wear a helmet afterward until the site heals and the head shape normalizes.

The bottom line? Does your baby have a sunken in or bulging soft spot? Learn more about vaccine availability.