Pterion
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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.) | |
| 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; 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 three bones, the sphenoid bone, the parietal bone and the temporal bone.
Clinically, the pterion is relevant because 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.
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.
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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 As such, some of the information contained herein may be outdated.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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cranial sutures: Coronal | Lambdoid | Occipitomastoid | Parietomastoid | Sphenofrontal | Sphenoparietal | Sphenosquamosal | Sphenozygomatic |Squamosal | Zygomaticotemporal | Zygomaticofrontal | Frontal/Metopic | Sagittal | Frontoethmoidal | Petrosquamous | Sphenoethmoidal | Sphenopetrosal fontanelles: Anterior fontanelle | Posterior fontanelle Asterion | Nasion | Pterion | Dacryon | Inferior orbital fissure | Foramen lacerum | Jugular foramen |
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