The softest parts of the head are the fontanelles, or "soft spots," on an infant's skull, where bony plates haven't fused, allowing for brain growth and molding during birth. In adults, the skull bones fuse, but the brain itself is the softest substance within the head, being delicate and jelly-like due to its high water and fat content, protected by cerebrospinal fluid and the skull.
Some parts of it, called fontanelles, are softer and more flexible. You can see an example of this in the soft spot at the top of an infant's head.
The pterion is known as the weakest part of the skull. The anterior division of the middle meningeal artery runs underneath the pterion. Consequently, a traumatic blow to the pterion may rupture the middle meningeal artery causing an epidural haematoma.
An infant is born with two major soft spots on the top of the head called fontanels. These soft spots are spaces between the bones of the skull where bone formation isn't complete. This allows the skull to be molded during birth. The smaller spot at the back usually closes by age 2 to 3 months.
Fontanelles, often referred to as "soft spots," are one of the most prominent anatomical features of the newborn's skull. Six fontanelles are present during infancy, with the most notable being the anterior and posterior fontanelles.
The pterion is a craniometric point at the point where the greater wing of the sphenoid bone, the parietal bone and the frontal bone meet. It is the weakest point of the skull.
Cranial sutures and fontanels
The sutures meet at the fontanels, the soft spots on a baby's head. The sutures remain flexible during infancy. This allows the skull to grow as the brain grows. The largest fontanel, called the anterior fontanel, is at the front.
A fontanelle (or fontanel) (colloquially, soft spot) is an anatomical feature of the infant human skull comprising soft membranous gaps (sutures) between the cranial bones that make up the calvaria of a fetus or an infant.
All babies are born with two baby soft spots (fontanelles) on their heads: The larger soft spot (anterior fontanelle) is toward the front of the head, and the smaller soft spot (posterior fontanelle) is toward the back.
“The most dangerous place to hit your head is on either side of your head, just above your ears. The skull is thinnest there, and there's an artery that can burst and cause direct bleeding in the brain.”
Within the frontal lobe, the most susceptible area to injury lies at the very front of the brain behind the skull.
The so-called "God spot" in the brain is a theoretical concept that there is a single structure or area of the brain responsible for religious belief and experience. Most studies, however, have not shown there to actually exist this localized area responsible for all religiosity.
About 75% of your brain is water, making hydration crucial for sharp thinking, focus, and mood, as even mild dehydration (losing 2% of body water) can impair memory, concentration, and reaction time. The remaining part of the brain is mostly fat, and this water content is essential for creating neurotransmitters and supporting brain function.
Skull fractures are more easily sustained at the thin squamous temporal and parietal bones, [1, 3, 4] the sphenoid sinus, the foramen magnum, the petrous temporal ridge, and the inner parts of the sphenoid wings at the skull base.
The prefrontal cortex (PFC)—the most evolved brain region—subserves our highest-order cognitive abilities. However, it is also the brain region that is most sensitive to the detrimental effects of stress exposure.
Your living brain has about the same consistency as warm butter, an egg white, soft gelatin or soft tofu. While your skull protects your brain, the brain is still quite vulnerable.
Pain-sensitive structures in the head and neck, including the scalp, periosteum, meninges, and blood vessels, are innervated predominantly by the trigeminal and upper cervical nerves.
Fontanelles are soft spots on your baby's head where the skull bones have not yet completely fused together. Fontanelles are completely normal and important for brain and skull development. The fontanelles should be completely closed by the time your baby is 26 months old.
The fontanelles provide gaps for the bones to move during the first few months of life, so any pressure on the skull can influence baby's head shape. “Because these parts of the skull move around a little bit, they're not sealed,” Lai says. “If you press on any area, you can flatten that part of the skull.”
Injuries are a common cause of head dents. A blow to the head can lead to a depressed skull fracture where part of the skull is sunken in due to broken bones. Bone diseases like Paget's disease of bone can also cause head dents.
Touching the Soft Spot is Safe:
Be gentle of course. protects the brain. ⦁ You can wash your baby's hair without worrying about hurting the soft spot. ⦁ You can also brush your baby's hair with a soft brush.
Lipoma This is a benign tumor of adipose (fat) cells. It presents as a painless lump below the skin. Intraosseus hemangioma This is a well-defined, benign vascular lesion within the skull. It may expand the outer surface of the skull.
This type of tumor forms in a pea-sized gland, called the pituitary gland, found in the skull base. Paraganglioma. This type of tumor usually grows in the head and neck area. While it's possible for a paraganglioma to be cancerous, it usually is not.
If you notice any of the following, it's important to schedule an appointment with your GP: Your lump is increasing in size. Your lump feels hard and doesn't move under the skin. Your lump is painful, red, hot, or shows signs of infection.