Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Localization of pterion in neonatal cadavers: a morphometric study

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Pterion is defined as a junction of temporal, frontal, parietal, and sphenoid bones. In newborns, pterion may be defined as a region that shows variability in the exact location because of the lack of complete bony structure. The aim of this study is to define the topographic anatomy of this important surgical point, pterion, and the variability of its localization on craniums of newborn cadavers.

Methods

Our study was performed using 35 term neonatal cadaver specimens. We measured the distances between the pterion and other critical points and used a scale diagram for the definition of pterional area.

Results

Our scale diagram showed that pterion is mostly localized in regions c, d, e, and f on the length and regions 2, 3, 4, and 5 on the width. Localization was not observed in regions a, b, g, and h, and in areas of squares 1 and 6. The most observed localization of pterion was the e4 (24.28%) area.

Conclusion

This study provides a detailed knowledge on localization of this important point, pterion, which will be useful for the clinicians at operation planning and treatment stages, serving for the success in surgery in the presence of this variable topographic cranial anatomy.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Bozbuga M, Ozturk A, Ari Z, Sahinoglu K, Bayraktar B, Polat G, Gurel I (1998) Surgical anatomy of the temporal bone and measurements of the skull bas efor transpetrosal approaches. Okajimas Folia Anat Jpn 75(1):33–39

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Cheng WY, Lee HT, Sun MH, Shen CC (2006) A pterion keyhole approach for the treatment of anterior circulation aneurysms. Minim Invasive Neurosurg 49(5):257–262

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Das S, Suri R, Kapur V (2005) Anatomical observations on os inca and associated cranial deformities. Folia Morphol (Warsz) 64(2):118–121

    Google Scholar 

  4. Ersoy M, Evliyaoglu C, Bozkurt MC, Konuksan B, Tekdemir I, Keskil IS (2003) Epipteric bones in the pterion may be surgical pitfall. Minim Invasive Neurosurg 46(6):364–365

    Google Scholar 

  5. Feng WF, Qi ST, Huang SP, Huang LJ (2005) Surgical treatment of anterior circulation aneurysm via pterion keyhole approach. Di Yi Jun Yi Da Xue Xue Bao 25(12), 1546-8:1551

    Google Scholar 

  6. Lang J (1983) The fronto-temporal region and its clinically important distance from the optic nevre. 1. the fronto temporal region. Neurochirurgia (Stuttg) 26(6):161–163

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Lang J (1984) The pterion region and its clinically important distance to the optic nevre. 2. Pterion region, distance to the optic nevre, dimensions and shape of the recess or the temporal pole. Neurochirurgia (Stuttg) 27(2):31–35

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Moore KL, Dalley AF (1999) Clinically oriented anatomy, 4th edn. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, pp 836–842

    Google Scholar 

  9. Nathal E, Gomez-Amador JL (2005) Anatomic and surgical basis of the sphenoid ridge keyhole approach for cerebral aneurysms. Neurosurgery 56(Suppl 1):178–185 discussion 178-85

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. 0guz O, Sanli SG, Bozkir MG, Soames RW (2004) The pterion in Turkish male skulls. Surg Radiol Anat 26(3):220–4

    Google Scholar 

  11. Potapov AA, Yeolchiyan SA, Tcherekaev VA, Kornienko VN, Arutyunov NV, Kravtchuk AD, Shahinian GG, Likhterman LB, Serova NK, Eropkin SV (1996) Removal of a craniao-orbital foreign body by a supraorbital-pterion approach. J Craniofac Surg 7(3):224–227

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Sakovich VP, Kolotvinov VS, Shamov A (2000) The surgical treatment of intracranial aneurysms from the pterion approach using small trephining openings. Zh Vopr Neiokhir Im N N Burdenko (1): 3–6; discussion 7

  13. Saxena RC, Bilodi AKS, Mane SS, Kumar A (2003) Study of pterion in skulls of awadh area-in and around Lucknow. Kathmandu Univ Med J (1):32–33

  14. Standring S, Ellis H, Healy JC, Johnson D (2005) Gray’s anatomy, 39th edn. Elsevier Churchill Livingstone, London, pp 442–471

    Google Scholar 

  15. Urzi F, Ianello A, Torrisi A, Foti P, Mortellaro NF, Cavallaro M (2003) Morphological variability of pterion in the human skull. Ital J Anat Embryol 108(2):83–117

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, Medical Faculty of Ondokuz Mayis University, Kurupelit, Samsun, Turkey

    Mennan Ece Aydin, Cem Kopuz, Mehmet Tevfik Demir & Ufuk Çorumlu

  2. Department of Neurosurgery, Medical Faculty of Ondokuz Mayis University, Kurupelit, Turkey

    Ahmet Hilmi Kaya

Authors
  1. Mennan Ece Aydin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Cem Kopuz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Mehmet Tevfik Demir
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ufuk Çorumlu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Ahmet Hilmi Kaya
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mennan Ece Aydin.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Aydin, M.E., Kopuz, C., Demir, M.T. et al. Localization of pterion in neonatal cadavers: a morphometric study. Surg Radiol Anat 32, 545–550 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-009-0615-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-009-0615-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation