Bone
Parietal bone
Roof and sides of the cranium
High-yield
The pterion (thin junction of frontal, parietal, temporal, sphenoid) overlies the middle meningeal artery — fracture risks epidural hematoma.
Overview
A paired flat bone forming most of the roof and lateral walls of the cranial vault.
Reference facts
- Bone type
Flat
- Key landmarks
Parietal eminence; Superior and inferior temporal lines; Groove for the middle meningeal artery
- Articulations
Opposite parietal (sagittal suture); Frontal (coronal suture); Occipital (lambdoid suture); Temporal and sphenoid bones
Clinical correlation
Pterion fracture may tear the middle meningeal artery → extradural (epidural) hematoma.