What does a fontanel represent?

A fontanel represents a "soft spot" in an infant's skull. These are gaps between the bones of an infant's skull that allow for growth and flexibility during childbirth. As the brain grows rapidly in infancy, the fontanels accommodate this growth by remaining open until the bony plates of the skull gradually fuse together, typically by the age of 18 to 24 months. The presence of fontanels is a normal anatomical feature of an infant, and they play a crucial role in the safe delivery of a baby as well as in allowing further brain development in the early months of life. The other options pertain to different anatomical structures and functions, and do not accurately describe a fontanel.