Study of the Location and Morphology of the Pterion in Dry Skulls and Their Clinical Implications

ABSTRACT

Background: Pterion is usually marked by an H-shaped formof sutures that forms the union of the frontal, parietal, greaterwing of sphenoid, and temporal bones. The center of pterion isaround 4.0 cm higher to the zygomatic arch and 3.0-3.5 cmposterior to frontozygomatic suture. The present study wasconducted with the aim to determine the location of pterion andits clinical implications.Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted inthe Department of Anatomy, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College& Hospital, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India. The study included 40skulls of unknown gender. PT was taken as the distance fromthe center of Pterion to the superior part of thetemporozygomatic suture. For the linear measurements, onejaw of caliper pointed at the frontozygomatic suture and theother at the pterion center. All the data thus obtained wasarranged in a tabulated form and analyzed using SPSSsoftware. Mean and median values of all the results werecalculated.Results: A total of 40 skulls were studied in the present study.The mean distance on the right side was 3.5 cm and on leftside was 3.6 cm with variation between 2.1 To 4.4 cm on bothsides. The median distance on the right side was 3.46 cm andon the left side was 3.48 cm.Conclusion: The location and the type of pterion variesamongst different ethnic and racial groups. The present studymay be of use to the forensic experts and anthropologists.