pterion

P3T1E1R1I1O1N1
/ˈtɛɹɪən/

noun

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

OriginFrench ptérion ← Ancient Greek πτερόν →
Scrabble 9
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Meanings

nounpterion (plural pterions or pteria)

plural pterions · plural pteria

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

    Then standing before a closet mirror, he put the automatic to his head, at the point of the pterion, and pressed the comfortably concaved trigger.

    1969, Vladimir Nabokov, Ada or Ardor, Penguin, published 2011, page 349

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekπτερόν“wing”
  2. Frenchptérion
  3. Englishpterion

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

More words from French, Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

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

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

proteinpointerinteropPetroniPetrinorepointPeritontropinetropein
Cite this entry
APA

pterion. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pterion

MLA

“pterion.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pterion. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “pterion,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pterion.

Source: pterion on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.