Bone
Parietal bone
Curved plates protecting the upper and lateral brain
High-yield
At the pterion, parietal bone meets frontal, temporal and sphenoid bones. The nearby anterior branch of the middle meningeal artery makes this thin region clinically important.
Overview
The paired parietal bones form much of the cranial vault. They meet at the sagittal suture, with the frontal bone in front, occipital bone behind and temporal region below.
Reference facts
- Bone type
- Flat cranial bone
- Key landmarks
- Parietal eminence, superior and inferior temporal lines, and grooves for meningeal vessels on the inner surface
- Articulations
- Opposite parietal at the sagittal suture; frontal at the coronal suture; occipital at the lambdoid suture; temporal and sphenoid bones
Clinical correlation
A fracture near the pterion can injure a meningeal vessel and cause an epidural hematoma: blood accumulating between skull and dura. Such a collection can compress the brain.
Frequently asked questions
What type of bone is the parietal bone?
The parietal bone is a flat cranial bone bone.
What does the parietal bone articulate with?
Opposite parietal at the sagittal suture; frontal at the coronal suture; occipital at the lambdoid suture; temporal and sphenoid bones.
What are the key landmarks of the parietal bone?
Key landmarks of the parietal bone include the parietal eminence, superior and inferior temporal lines, and grooves for meningeal vessels on the inner surface.