Meanings
plural basions
- anatomyThe middle of the anterior margin of the foramen magnum of the skull.
The tectorial membrane limits extension, while odontoid impaction on the basion limits flexion.
2010, John P. Dormans, Ejovi Ughwanogho, & Jaimo Ahn, "Pediatric Spine Trauma", Chapter 12 in Behrooz A. Akbarnia, Muharrem Yazici, & George H. Thompson (eds.) The Growing Spine: Management of Spinal Disorders in Young Children, page 1382 more examples
In order to determine the distance of the zygomaxillare and the first molar from the basion (or prosthion), isosceles triangles were constructed from the measurements, which on one hand had the basion for the apex, the distance connecting both molar middle points as the base and the basion-first molar distance as the legs (Fig. 4. A), and on the other hand they had the distance between both zygomaxillaria as the base and the basion-zygomaxillaria as the base and the basion-zygomaxillary distance as the legs (Fig. 4. B).
1930, J. D. White, John Hugh McQuillen, George Jacob Ziegler, The Dental Cosmos - Volume 72, Part 1, page 646Additional skull measurements, taken with small sliding calipers, were from zygomaxillare, the lowest point on the zygomatic-maxillary suture, to the points of alveolare, basion and nasion.
1980, York Archaeological Trust, The Archaeology of York, page 21
Origin
From New Latin, equivalent to basi- (“base”) + -ion (“cephalometric reference point”).
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Arabic قُوَيْعِدَة
- قُوَيْعِدَة (quwayʕida)(anatomy) middle of the anterior margin of the foramen magnum of the skull
Catalan basi, bàsion
- basi(anatomy) middle of the anterior margin of the foramen magnum of the skull
- bàsion(anatomy) middle of the anterior margin of the foramen magnum of the skull
Czech spodník
- spodník(anatomy) middle of the anterior margin of the foramen magnum of the skull
French basion
- basion(anatomy) middle of the anterior margin of the foramen magnum of the skull
Latin basion
- basion(anatomy) middle of the anterior margin of the foramen magnum of the skull
Rhymes & wordplay
Anagrams
Cite this entry
basion. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/basion
“basion.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/basion. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “basion,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/basion.
Source: basion on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.