Pterion
| Pterion | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Side view of head, showing surface relations of bones. (Pterion labeled at center.) | |
 | |
| Side view of the skull. (Pterion visible but not labeled. Arrow points to sphenoparietal suture, and pterion is slightly to the right of the tip of arrow.) | |
| Latin | Pterion |
| Gray's | subject #46 182 |
The pterion is the point corresponding with the posterior end of the sphenoparietal suture.
Location
The pterion is situated approximately 3 cm behind and slightly above the level of the zygomatic process of the frontal bone.
It marks the junction between three bones:
Clinical significance
The pterion is known as the weakest part of the skull.[1] The anterior division of the middle meningeal artery runs underneath the pterion.[2] Consequently, a traumatic blow to the pterion may rupture the middle meningeal artery causing an epidural haematoma. The pterion may also be fractured indirectly by blows to the top or back of the head that place sufficient force on the skull to fracture the pterion.
Etymology
The pterion receives its name from the Greek root pteron, meaning wing. In Greek mythology, Hermes, messenger of the gods, was enabled to fly by winged sandals, and wings on his head, which were attached at the pterion.
References
- ↑ Garner, Jeff; Goodfellow, Peter (2004). Questions for the MRCS Vivas. p. 123.
- ↑ Weston, Gabriel (22 August 2011). "Mapping the Body: The Temple". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 February 2012, 4 April 2012.
External links
- SUNY Figs 22:01-04
- Diagram - look for #24 (source here)
This article incorporates text from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy.