Cranial landmarks are osseous features that can be observed on the external aspect of the skull as various formations, such as elevations and depressions. Most of these landmarks are formed at sites where several sutures intersect.

The skull presents with the following cranial landmarks:

Opisthocranion - the most posteriorly protruding point on the back of the skull; most commonly, it is found on the superior aspect of the squamous part of the occipital bone, while only occasionally on the external occipital protuberance;
Inion - the most prominent point on the posterior aspect of the skull; it is easily palpable and is found at the base of the external occipital protuberance;
Opisthion - a midline point of the posterior border of the foramen magnum; found on the inner aspect of the posterior border of the foramen magnum; it faces the basion;
Basion - a midline point of the anterior border of the foramen magnum; the apical ligament of the dens attaches to the basion;
Staphylion - a midline point of the most posterior aspect of the hard palate; it often corresponds to the posterior nasal spine; it is found at the site where the median palatine suture is crossed by an imaginary line that is drawn from the posterior margins of the palatine bones;
Orale - the most anterior point of the hard palate; found at the central incisors;
Endomolare (2) - a paired point that is found on the inner (medial) aspect of the alveolar yoke of the second maxillary molar tooth;
Gonion - found on the external surface of the angle of the mandible; it is the most lateral point on the mandibular angle;
Gnathion - midpoint on the lower border of the mandible;
Infradentale - midpoint on the outer aspect of the alveolar arch of the mandible between the mandibular incisors;
Pogonion - the most superior anterior midpoint of the chin; it can also be defined as the most forward-projecting point on the anterior surface of the chin.

All these cranial landmarks primarily serve as surgical landmarks and craniometric points in radiology, neurosurgery, and anthropology. Additionally, cranial landmarks are used in forensic medicine.

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Cranial landmarks (part 2)