Asterion (anatomy)

The asterion is the point on the skull corresponding to the posterior end of the parietomastoid suture.
Location.
In human anatomy, the asterion is a visible, so-called craniometric, point on the exposed skull, just behind the ear, where three cranial sutures meet:
or where three cranial bones meet:
In the adult, it lies 4 cm behind and 12 mm above the center of the entrance to the ear canal.
Clinical significance.
Neurosurgeons use this point to orient themselves, in order to plan safe entry into the skull for some operations, such as retro-sigmoid approach.
Etymology.
The asterion receives its name from the Greek ἀστέριον ("astērion"), meaning "star" or "starry".
The "Mercedes point" is an alternative term for the asterion, for its resemblance to the Mercedes-Benz logo.