Sutural morphology of the pterion and asterion among adult Kenyans
Date
2009Author
Mwachaka Philip M.
Hassanali, J.
Odula, P.
Type
ArticleLanguage
enMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
The pterion and asterion are points of sutural confluence seen in the norma lateralis of the skull. Their patterns
of formation exhibit population-based variations. Data on the Kenyan population however remains scarce and
yet the understanding of the sutural morphology of these points is important in surgical approaches to the
cranial fossae. Ninety human skulls of known gender (51 male, 39 female) were examined on both sides. Four
types of pteria were observed: sphenoparietal (66.7%), frontotemporal (15.5%), stellate (11.1%) and epipteric
(6.7%). The epipteric type occurred more in females (10.5%) than in males (4.8%). Sutural bones were found
at the asterion in 20% of the cases. Variations in the sutural morphology of the pterion and asterion in the
Kenyan crania is similar to that of other populations.
Citation
Braz. J. Morphol. Sci.Publisher
Department of Human Anatomy