Pterion
Pterion | |
---|---|
Details | |
Identifiers | |
Latin | pterion |
TA98 | A02.1.00.019 |
TA2 | 421 |
FMA | 264720 |
Anatomical terminology |
The pterion is the region where the frontal, parietal, temporal, and sphenoid bones join.[1] It is located on the side of the skull, just behind the temple. It is also considered to be the weakest part of the skull, which makes it clinically significant, as if there is a fracture around the pterion it could be accompanied by an epidural hematoma.
Structure
The pterion is located in the
It is the junction between four bones:
- the parietal bone.
- the squamous part of temporal bone.
- the greater wing of sphenoid bone.
- the frontal bone.
These bones are typically joined by five
- the sphenoparietal suture joins the sphenoid and parietal bones.
- the coronal suture joins the frontal bone to the sphenoid and parietal bones.
- the squamous suturejoins the temporal bone to the sphenoid and parietal bones.
- the sphenofrontal suture joins the sphenoid and frontal bones.
- the sphenosquamosal suture joins the sphenoid and temporal bones.
Clinical significance
Hematoma
The pterion is known as the weakest part of the skull.
Surgery
The pterion is a structural landmark for neurosurgical approach to middle cerebral artery aneurysms.[5]
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
This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 182 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)
- ^ R.M. McMinn.Last's anatomy regional and applied, 9th edition. Edinburgh (UK): Churchill Livingstone; 1994. Page 645
- S2CID 24390399.
- ISBN 9780340812921.
- ^ Weston, Gabriel (22 August 2011). "Mapping the Body: The Temple". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 April 2012.
- PMID 14503657.
External links
- Anatomy figure: 22:01-04 at Human Anatomy Online, SUNY Downstate Medical Center
- Diagram - look for #24 (source here)