Craniometric Points

Nasion (n)

Midline point where the two nasal bones and the frontal intersect

Glabella (g)

Most anterior midline point on the frontal bone, usually above the frontonasal suture

Bregma (b)

Ectocranial point where the coronal and sagittal sutures intersect

Lambda (l)

Ectocranial midline point where the sagittal and lambdoid sutures intersect

Basion (ba)

Midline point on the anterior margin of the foramen magnum

Opisthion (o)

Midline point at the posterior margin of the foramen magnum

Opisthocranion (op)

Midline ectocranial point at the farthest chord length from glabella

Gnathion (gn)

Most inferior midline point on the mandible

Rhinion (rhi)

Midline point at the inferior free end of the internasal suture

Incision (inc)

Point at the occlusal surface where the upper central incisors meet

Prosthion (pr)

Midline point at the most anterior point on the alveolar process of the maxillae

Obelion (ob)

Ectocranial midline point where a line connecting the parietal foramina (when present) intersects the midline

Inion (i)

Ectocranial midline point at the base of the external occipital protuberance

Sphenobasion (sphba)

Point where the midsagittal plane intersects the basilar suture

Hormion (hr)

Most posterior midline point on the vomer

Pogonion (pg)

Most anterior midline point on the chin of the mandible

Infradentale (id)

Midline point at the superior tip of the septum between the mandibular central incisors

Nasospinale (ns)

Point where line tangent to the inferior most points of the two inferior curves of the anterior nasal aperture margin crosses the midline

Infradentale superius (ids)

Point at the inferior tip of the bony septum between the upper central incisors

Ectoconchion (ec)

Most lateral point on orbital margin

Zygoorbitale (zyo)

Point where orbital rim intersects zygomaticomaxilla

Orbitale (or)

Lowest point on orbital margin

Frontomalare temporale (fmt)

Point where frontozygomatic crosses temporal

Frontomalare orbitale (fmo)

Point where frontozygomatic suture crosses inner orbital rim

Dacryon (d)

Point where maxillolacrimal suture meets frontal

Jugale (ju)

Notch between temporal and frontal zygomatc

Zygion (zy)

Maximum lateral extent of lateral zygomatic arch

Zygomaxillare (zm)

Most inferior point on the zygomaticomaxillary suture

Alare (al)

Most lateral point on margin of anterior nasal aperture

Condylion laterale (cdl)

Most lateral point on mandibular condyle

Condylion mediale (cdm)

Most medial point on mandibular condyle

Coronion (cr)

Point at tip of coronid process on mandible

Gonion (go)

Point along rounded posteroinferior corner of the mandible between the ramus and body 

Mentale (ml)

Most inferior point on margin of the mandibular mental foramen

Condylion superior (cs)

Most superior point on mandibular condyle

Apex (ap)

Point where a paracoronal plane through the right and left poria intersects midsagittal

Vertex (v)

Highest point on midline

Asterion (ast)

Point where lambdoid, parietomastoid, and occipitomastoid sutures meet

Stephanion (st)

Point where coronal suture crosses temporal line

Euryon (eu)

Point of greatest cranial breadth

Porion (po)

Uppermost point on margin of external acoustic meatus

Mastoidale (ms)

Most inferior point on mastoid process

Pterion (pt)

Region where frontal, temporal, parietal, and sphenoid meet on the side of the vault