extruding without edges splitting at vertices

[aadrunk]

i have extruded edges and where the vertices are the polygon splits. i used merge vertices but does not hold when extruding. how can i keep the polygons together? this a head modeling project. if i cant fix this will this pose any problems when i start animatind it?

[InProgress]

Check if in the Mesh Menu, the Keep faces together is turned on.