Abstract

Introduction; This study was carried out at the Delta State University, Abraka in Nigeria, to ascertain the different forms of pteria and delineate their distances to adjoining structures in human skulls.


Methodology; The study adopted a prospective descriptive mode and was conducted in the Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Biology, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria. A total of fifteen human skulls in the Anatomy Museum were used. Measurements on both sides of the skulls were taken using vernier callipers from midpoint of the pterion to middle point of the zygoma and the frontozygomatic suture and reported on data sheet. Ethical approval was obtained from the Research and Ethics Committee of the Department of Anatomy, Delta State University, Abraka. The data was analyzed using the Social Sciences Statistical Kit, version 23.


 


Results; The most prevalent form of pterion seen was sphenoparietal pterion (n = 20; 66.7%) while the least was epipteric (n = 4; 13.3%). Frontotemporal pterion (n = 6; 20%) was also observed. The dimension of the pterion from the frontozygomatic suture was 2.49 ± 0.44cm on the left and 2.51 ± 0.29cm on the right. The pterion measurement from the middle of the zygomatic arch was 4.04 ± 0.35cm on the left and 4.11 ± 0.42cm on the right. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) between the right and the left sides.


 


Conclusion; Sphenoparietal pterion was the most widespread and the least epipteric. The stellate form was not found in the Anatomy museum.