Pterion

Pterion

Infobox Anatomy
Name = Pterion
Latin =
GraySubject = 46
GrayPage = 182


Caption = Side view of head, showing surface relations of bones. (Pterion labeled at center.)


Caption2 = 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.)
System =
Precursor =
MeshName =
MeshNumber =
DorlandsPre = p_41
DorlandsSuf = 12678391
The point corresponding with the posterior end of the sphenoparietal suture is named the pterion.

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

* [http://www.shoshinryu.com/images/pterion.jpgDiagram at shoshinryu.com]
*
* [http://face-and-emotion.com/dataface/anatomy/media/Morris_skull-lateralview.jpgDiagram - look for #24] (source [http://face-and-emotion.com/dataface/anatomy/skullviews.jsp here] )
*


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • pterión — pterion pterion m. anat. Punto del cráneo situado en el lugar de unión de los huesos frontal, temporal, parietal y el ala mayor del esfenoides. Medical Dictionary. 2011. pterión …   Diccionario médico

  • ptérion — ● ptérion nom masculin Endroit de la voûte crânienne où s articulent le temporal, le pariétal, la grande aile du sphénoïde et le frontal. ptéréon [pteʀeɔ̃] ou ptérion [pteʀjɔ̃] n. m. ÉTYM. 1877; du grec pteron « aile ». ❖ ♦ Anat …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Pterĭon — Pterĭon, s. Schädel …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • ptérion — s. m. [Anatomia] Região craniana onde se articulam o frontal, o parietal e o temporal com a correspondente asa do esfenoide. • [Brasil] Plural: pteríones ou pteríons. • [Portugal] Plural: pteríones …   Dicionário da Língua Portuguesa

  • Ptérion — En anatomie, le ptérion (du grec pteron aile) est une jonction osseuse cliniquement importante située dans la partie antérieure de la fosse temporale, à une distance de 3 à 4 cm au dessus du milieu de l arcade zygomatique. Il correspond… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • pterion — /tear ee on , ter /, n. Craniom. the craniometric point at the side of the sphenoidal fontanelle. [1875 80; < NL, alter. of Gk pterón wing, on model of INION] * * * …   Universalium

  • pterion — noun The point corresponding with the posterior end of the sphenoparietal suture; known as the weakest part of the skull …   Wiktionary

  • pterion — A craniometric point in the region of the sphenoid fontanelle, at the junction of the greater wing of the sphenoid, the squamous temporal, the frontal, and the parietal bones; it intersects the cour …   Medical dictionary

  • ptérion — (entrée créée par le supplément) (pté ri on) s. m. Terme d anthropologie. Point singulier de la paroi du crâne, correspondant au sommet de la ptère. On dit aussi point ptérique. ÉTYMOLOGIE    Dérivé de ptère …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré

  • pterion — n. (Anatomy) region at the base of the skull (meeting point of the parietal, temporal, sphenoid, and frontal bones) …   English contemporary dictionary

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