Organ
Parietal lobe
Somatic sensation integrated with spatial and learned tasks
High-yield
Primary somatosensory areas 3, 1 and 2 lie along the postcentral region. Posterior parietal functions depend on connections with other lobes rather than on one isolated sensory center.
Overview
The parietal cortex begins behind the central sulcus. Its anterior region processes somatic sensation; more posterior areas combine sensory information for attention, skilled action and spatial behavior. The intraparietal sulcus separates superior and inferior lobules. The angular and supramarginal gyri are parts of the inferior lobule, and the precuneus occupies the medial surface.
Reference facts
- Location
- Behind the central sulcus and above the lateral sulcus; its posterior boundary includes the medial parieto-occipital sulcus and an inferred boundary on the lateral surface.
- Parts
- Postcentral region, superior and inferior parietal lobules, supramarginal and angular gyri, and medial precuneus.
- Blood supply
- MCA branches mainly laterally, ACA branches mainly superomedially, and PCA branches in posterior medial regions; borders vary.
- Relations
- Frontal cortex is anterior, occipital cortex posterior and temporal cortex inferolateral.
- Function
- Somatic sensory processing, body and spatial awareness, visually guided action, and contributions to language, writing and calculation within distributed networks.
Clinical correlation
Right-hemisphere attention-network injury, including parietal damage, can cause left spatial neglect. Dominant parietal-region injury may impair writing, calculation, finger recognition and left–right discrimination - the Gerstmann pattern. Neither syndrome is guaranteed by damage to one named gyrus.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the parietal lobe located?
Behind the central sulcus and above the lateral sulcus; its posterior boundary includes the medial parieto-occipital sulcus and an inferred boundary on the lateral surface.
What does the parietal lobe do?
Somatic sensory processing, body and spatial awareness, visually guided action, and contributions to language, writing and calculation within distributed networks.
What are the parts of the parietal lobe?
The parts of the parietal lobe are the postcentral region, superior and inferior parietal lobules, supramarginal and angular gyri, and medial precuneus.
What is the blood supply of the parietal lobe?
MCA branches mainly laterally, ACA branches mainly superomedially, and PCA branches in posterior medial regions; borders vary.