caput succedaneum /suk′sədənē″əm/ [L, caput, head, succeder, to replace] , a localized pitting edema in the scalp of a fetus that may overlie sutures of the skull. It is usually formed during labor as a result of the circular pressure of the cervix on the fetal occiput. On vaginal examination the swelling may be mistaken for unruptured membranes. If the caput enlarges appreciably during labor, it may cause an erroneous impression of fetal descent on successive examinations. At birth the baby’s head may appear markedly deformed, but the swelling begins to resolve immediately and is usually gone in a few days. Compare cephalhematoma, molding.
