The fetal skull
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- Created by: Ruby waterhouse
- Created on: 03-11-20 15:33
What are the bones of the fetal skull divded into?
face, vault and base
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what regions can the fetal skull be divided into?
face, brow, vertex and occiput
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The sutures of the fetal skull
sagittal, lambdoidal, and coronal suture
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Why are the fotanelles important?
they allow the movement of the bones
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Why are fontanelles a useful tool in midwifery?
they help the midwife to identify the position of the fetal head in labour in an vaginal examination.
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What can the fontanelles help to indicate?
if the baby is dehydrated eg it may be swollen which could indicate some intracranial pressure.
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what are the two main fontanelles?
- anterior fontanelle (bregma )
- posterior fontanelle (lamboda)
- posterior fontanelle (lamboda)
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Anterior fontanelle (bregma)
what shape is it?
where is it formed at?
what does it measure across and long?
and when does it close by ossification?
what shape is it?
where is it formed at?
what does it measure across and long?
and when does it close by ossification?
- diamond shape
- formed at the junction of the 4 sutures, frontal, parietal and two halves of the coronal suture.
- 2.5cm across
- 3cm long
- ossification closes at 18 months
- formed at the junction of the 4 sutures, frontal, parietal and two halves of the coronal suture.
- 2.5cm across
- 3cm long
- ossification closes at 18 months
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posterior fontanelle (lambda)
what shape?
where is it formed?
when does the ossification close?
what shape?
where is it formed?
when does the ossification close?
- triangular shape
- formed at the junction of the 3 sutures - the sagittal suture and the 2 halves of the lambdoidal suture
- closes by 6th week after birth.
- formed at the junction of the 3 sutures - the sagittal suture and the 2 halves of the lambdoidal suture
- closes by 6th week after birth.
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foramen magnum what does it allow?
- allows the passage of the spinal cord leading from the brain
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the base of the skull - why is it important
- it is important as it protects the essential parts of the brain
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face and base of the skull
- laid down in cartilage and are almost completely ossified by birth
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the vault - what is it composed of?
- flat bones which devlop from membrane
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the moveable skull and separate parts what do they assist with?
- assist with the passage through the birth canal
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diameters of the fetal skull - suboccipitobregmatic
- how is it measured?
length?
- how does it present?
- how is it measured?
length?
- how does it present?
- measured from the nape of the neck to the centre of the anterior fontanelle
- presents when the head is fully flexed
- 9.5cm
- presents when the head is fully flexed
- 9.5cm
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diameters of fetal skull - suboccipitofrontal
how is it measure?
length?
how is it presented?
how is it measure?
length?
how is it presented?
- measured from the nape of the neck to the centre of the frontal suture.
- 9.5cm
- presents when the head is completely flexed
- 9.5cm
- presents when the head is completely flexed
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diameters of the fetal skull -occipitofrontal
how does it measure?
length?
how does it present?
how does it measure?
length?
how does it present?
- measured from the glabella (bridge of the nose)
- 11.5cm
- presents when the head is deflexed eg occipitoposterior position
- 11.5cm
- presents when the head is deflexed eg occipitoposterior position
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diameters of the fetal skull - mentovertical
where is it measured from?
length?
how does it present?
where is it measured from?
length?
how does it present?
- measured from the point of the chin to the highest point on the vertex
- 13.5cm
- presents when the head is midway between flexion and extension in a brow presentation
- 13.5cm
- presents when the head is midway between flexion and extension in a brow presentation
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diameters of the fetal skull - submentovertical
- length
- how does it present?
- where does it measure from?
- length
- how does it present?
- where does it measure from?
- measured from the junction of the chin with the neck to the highest point on the vertex
- 11.5cm
- presents when the head is fully extended in a face presentation
- 11.5cm
- presents when the head is fully extended in a face presentation
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diameters of the fetal skull-
submentobregmatic
- length?
- where is it measured from?
- how does it present?
submentobregmatic
- length?
- where is it measured from?
- how does it present?
- measured from the junction of the chin to the midpoint of the anterior of the fontanelle
- 9.5cm
- presents when the head is fully extended in a face presentation
- 9.5cm
- presents when the head is fully extended in a face presentation
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occipitomental -
how does it present?
length?
how does it present?
length?
- presents in a brow presentation
- 13cm
- 13cm
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Caput succedaneum
what is it caused by?
what is it caused by?
caused by cervial pressure against the presenting part of the fetal skull during labour
- the pressure results in swelling of the scalp by odema (collection of fluid) that builds up between the skin and skull bones
- the pressure results in swelling of the scalp by odema (collection of fluid) that builds up between the skin and skull bones
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how long does it take for the swelling from caput succedaneum to resolve and when is it most notiable?
- most noticeable at time of birth
- resolves quickly within hours or days after birth
- resolves quickly within hours or days after birth
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Things to consider when thinking about optimal fetal positioning
- passage
- power
- passenger
- power
- passenger
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what is the purpose of the female pelvis?
- to provide protection for the fetus in pregancy
- protects the major organs
- protects the major organs
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- function of the female pelvis
- provides a birth canal and facilitates birth
- allows movement for the woman in birth
- flexibilty - supporting the body
- allows movement of the coccyx to allow more space for birth
- allows movement for the woman in birth
- flexibilty - supporting the body
- allows movement of the coccyx to allow more space for birth
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The relationship between the fetal skull and the female pelvis
- facilitate the head coming out
-relationship is key as it is important that the the pelvis is large enough to allow the fetal head to fit through
-relationship is key as it is important that the the pelvis is large enough to allow the fetal head to fit through
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more on relationship between fetal skull and female pelvis
- different size pelvis will allow for a different size fetus to grow and develop
- most women will have a sucsessful vaginal birth as a result of the fetus growing and developing to fit the size of the womans pelvis
- most women will have a sucsessful vaginal birth as a result of the fetus growing and developing to fit the size of the womans pelvis
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more on relationship between the pelvis and the fetal skull
- some women may not have a successful birth and this may be because of diet, type of work that the woman does, medical factors and BMI which could cause the fetus to grow at different rates.
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Other cards in this set
Card 2
Front
what regions can the fetal skull be divided into?
Back
face, brow, vertex and occiput
Card 3
Front
The sutures of the fetal skull
Back
Card 4
Front
Why are the fotanelles important?
Back
Card 5
Front
Why are fontanelles a useful tool in midwifery?
Back
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