Standard Lemma guide

pterion

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /ˈtɛɹɪən/

1

noun

Meaning 1

The point corresponding with the posterior end of the sphenoparietal suture; known as the weakest part of the skull.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: anatomy, medicine, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

the craniometric point in the region of the sphenoid fontanelle

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: craniometric point

History

Etymology

From French ptérion, from ptère (“wing of the sphenoid bone”) + -ion, from Ancient Greek πτερόν (pterón, “wing”).

Across languages

Translations

9 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: جُنَيْحَى (junayḥā) — the point corresponding with the posterior end of the sphenoparietal suture
  • Catalan: pteri — the point corresponding with the posterior end of the sphenoparietal suture
  • Czech: křídelník — the point corresponding with the posterior end of the sphenoparietal suture
  • French: ptérion — the point corresponding with the posterior end of the sphenoparietal suture
  • German: Pterion — the point corresponding with the posterior end of the sphenoparietal suture
  • Latin: pterion — the point corresponding with the posterior end of the sphenoparietal suture
  • Spanish: pterión — the point corresponding with the posterior end of the sphenoparietal suture
  • Thai: ทัดดอกไม้ (tát-dɔ̀ɔk-mái) — the point corresponding with the posterior end of the sphenoparietal suture
  • Ukrainian: птеріон (pterion) — the point corresponding with the posterior end of the sphenoparietal suture