Sutural morphology of the pterion and asterion among adult Kenyans

Abstract

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.