Which bones make up the pterion?

Which bones make up the pterion?

• A. Frontal, Parietal, Temporal, and Sphenoid
• B. Frontal, Parietal, Occipital, and Ethmoid
• C. Frontal, Temporal, Occipital, and Sphenoid
• D. Parietal, Temporal, Frontal, and Mandible

Answer: (A)

The pterion is formed where four bones come together: the frontal bone, the parietal bone, the greater wing of the sphenoid bone, and the temporal bone. This junction is a relatively thin regions of the lateral skull, making it a recognizable landmark. It’s clinically important because the middle meningeal artery runs just beneath this area, so a fracture here can lead to an epidural hematoma. The other bones listed aren’t part of this junction (occipital, ethmoid, and mandible lie in different regions or structures), so they don’t form the pterion.

The pterion is formed where four bones come together: the frontal bone, the parietal bone, the greater wing of the sphenoid bone, and the temporal bone. This junction is a relatively thin regions of the lateral skull, making it a recognizable landmark. It’s clinically important because the middle meningeal artery runs just beneath this area, so a fracture here can lead to an epidural hematoma. The other bones listed aren’t part of this junction (occipital, ethmoid, and mandible lie in different regions or structures), so they don’t form the pterion.