Which option lists the bones forming the pterion?

Which option lists the bones forming the pterion?

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

Answer: (A)

The pterion is a region where four skull bones come together: the frontal bone, the parietal bone, the temporal bone, and the greater wing of the sphenoid. This junction forms a thin, weak spot in the side of the skull. It’s clinically important because the middle meningeal artery runs just beneath it, so a fracture here can lead to an epidural hematoma. The other options mix bones that do not meet at the same region (such as ethmoid, lacrimal, occipital, or mandible), so they don’t describe the pterion accurately.

The pterion is a region where four skull bones come together: the frontal bone, the parietal bone, the temporal bone, and the greater wing of the sphenoid. This junction forms a thin, weak spot in the side of the skull. It’s clinically important because the middle meningeal artery runs just beneath it, so a fracture here can lead to an epidural hematoma. The other options mix bones that do not meet at the same region (such as ethmoid, lacrimal, occipital, or mandible), so they don’t describe the pterion accurately.