Asterion (anatomy)

The asterion is the point on the skull corresponding to the posterior end of the parietomastoid suture.

For other uses, see Asterion (disambiguation).

Asterion
Side view of head, showing surface relations of bones. (Asterion visible at center right.)
Details
Identifiers
Latin	Asterion
TA	A02.1.00.020
FMA	76625
Anatomical terminology

Location

In human anatomy, the asterion is a visible, so-called craniometric, point on the exposed skull, just behind the ear, where three cranial sutures meet:

• the lambdoid,
• parieto-mastoid, and
• occipito-mastoid sutures,

or where three cranial bones meet:

• Parietal bone,
• Occipital bone,
• and Mastoid portion of the Temporal bone.

In the adult, it lies 4 cm behind and 12 mm above the center of the entrance to the ear canal.

Clinical significance

Neurosurgeons use this point to orient themselves, in order to plan safe entry into the skull for some operations, such as retro-sigmoid approach.[1]

Etymology

The asterion receives its name from the Greek ἀστέριον (astērion), meaning "star" or "starry".

The Mercedes point is an alternative term for the asterion, for its resemblance to the Mercedes-Benz logo.

References

1. Babacan S, Yildiz-Yilmaz M, Kafa IM, Coşkun I (2019). "The Surface and Intracranial Location of Asterion". J Craniofac Surg. 30 (8): e753–e755. doi:10.1097/SCS.0000000000005757.