Morphometric study of pterion in south indian skulls

Aim: To determine the morphometric of pterion in south Indian skulls Materials and Methods: A total 40 dry human adult aged skull of unknown sex were studied. A 0-150 mm digital electronical calliper was used for Morphometrical measurements. Results: In the present study, four Types of pterion: sphenoparietal, frontotemporal, stellate and epipteric were observed in south Indian skulls. The dominant type of pterion was Sphenoparietal (83%). This was followed by stellate (6.0%), epipteric (6.0%) and the least was frontotemporal (5.0%) and their respective distances from frontozygomatic fissure and zygomatic arch were measured. Conclusion: Relationship between the middle meningeal artery and the pterion is of great importance in the field of surgery, anthropology and in forensic medicine. The relationship between the point of middle meningeal artery and the pterion is not only playing roles in approaching the anterior division of middle meningeal artery, it is also useful in approaching the Brocca’s area on the left side of brain and the lateral (Sylvian) cerebral fissure.