AURICULOBREGMATIC LINE Meaning and
Definition
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The auriculobregmatic line is a prominent anatomical reference point that runs obliquely across the skull from the point where the external auditory meatus (ear canal) meets the superior margin of the tragus (a small pointed cartilaginous projection located anterior to the opening of the ear canal) to the bregma (the junction point of the coronal and sagittal sutures on the skull). It is also known as the Reid's base line.
This line serves as an important landmark for assessing the relative positioning and orientation of the skull bones, as well as for determining the long axis of the human skull. It is used in various medical and anthropological studies, especially to examine cranial morphology and growth patterns.
In terms of craniofacial analysis, the auriculobregmatic line aids in measurements and comparisons of different regions of the skull, such as the degree of cranial symmetry, size and position of the orbits (eye sockets), and the relative growth of the frontal and parietal bones. Researchers and clinicians utilize this line to develop standardized reference points and measurements that contribute to the understanding and diagnosis of craniofacial abnormalities, such as craniosynostosis (early fusion of skull sutures), plagiocephaly (asymmetrical skull shape), and various other conditions affecting the cranial structure.
Etymology of AURICULOBREGMATIC LINE
The word "Auriculobregmatic line" is derived from the Latin roots "auricula" meaning "ear" and "bregma" meaning "the junction between the sagittal and coronal sutures of the skull". The combination of these two terms describes a line that connects the external ear canal to the bregma, which is the region where the frontal bone and the two parietal bones of the cranium meet.
