The squamous part of the temporal bone forms the lateral cranial vault (temporal squama) and the posterior zygomatic arch root. Its inner surface is grooved by the middle meningeal artery. The pterion — the H-shaped suture junction of the frontal, parietal, sphenoid, and temporal squama — is the thinnest point of the skull and overlies the anterior division of the middle meningeal artery, making it the classic site of epidural haematoma from lateral skull trauma.
The squamous temporal bone at the pterion is the thinnest part of the calvarium (2-3 mm) and overlies the anterior division of the middle meningeal artery. A blow to the temporal region (common in assaults and motorcycle accidents) fractures the thin squama, lacerating the MMA in its epidural groove, producing the classic lucid interval followed by rapid neurological deterioration from epidural haematoma expansion. Emergency temporal craniotomy evacuates the haematoma and coagulates the MMA.
Temporal blow fracturing the squamous temporal bone at the pterion lacerates the anterior middle meningeal artery in its epidural groove, producing arterial epidural haematoma that expands over minutes to hours; the classic lucid interval (brief post-traumatic loss of consciousness followed by apparent recovery and then rapid deterioration) indicates the neurological urgency and emergency temporal craniotomy is required.
This website uses cookies to enhance your experience. Some are essential for site functionality, while others help us analyze and improve your usage experience. Please review your options and make your choice.
If you are under 16 years old, please ensure that you have received consent from your parent or guardian for any non-essential cookies.
Your privacy is important to us. You can adjust your cookie settings at any time. For more information about how we use data, please read our privacy policy. You may change your preferences at any time by clicking on the settings button below.
Note that if you choose to disable some types of cookies, it may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer.
Some required resources have been blocked, which can affect third-party services and may cause the site to not function properly.
This website uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience and ensure the site functions properly. By continuing to use this site, you acknowledge and accept our use of cookies.
