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| Pterion | |
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| Side view of head, showing surface relations of bones. (Pterion labeled at center.) | |
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| 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.) | |
| Gray's | subject #46 182 |
| Dorlands/Elsevier | p_41/12678391 |
The point corresponding with the posterior end of the sphenoparietal suture is named the pterion.
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Location
It is situated about 3 cm. behind, and a little above the level of the zygomatic process of the frontal bone.
It marks the junction between four bones:
- the parietal bone
- the temporal bone
- the sphenoid bone
- the frontal bone
Clinical significance
The pterion is known as the weakest part of the skull.
Clinically, the pterion is relevant because the anterior division of the middle meningeal artery runs beneath it, on the inner side of the skull, which is quite thin at this point.
A blow to the pterion (e.g. in boxing) may rupture the artery causing an extradural haematoma.
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.
External links
- Diagram at shoshinryu.com
- SUNY Figs 22:01-04
- Diagram - look for #24 (source here)
- Pterion at eMedicine Dictionary
This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained herein may be outdated. Please edit the article if this is the case, and feel free to remove this notice when it is no longer relevant.
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