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Graphics, Layout and Text Copyright © 1995 by Turhon Murad
Design, and Graphics Copyright © 1995 by Nanci Ellis
Project was sponsored, in part, by Technology and Learning Program, CSU, Chico
The Parietals are paired left and right. Externally, each possess a Superior, and Inferior Temporal Line, to which the temporal muscle is attached. The lines run from the Frontal Crest of the anterior frontal bone
to the Supra-Mastoid Crest on the posterior portion of the
temporal bone. The parietals articulate with each other by way of the
Mid-Sagittal Suture, and with the frontal bone anteriorly by way
of the Coronal Suture. These two sutures generally form a right
angle with one another. Posteriorly, the parietals articulate with the
Occipital Bone by way of the Lambdoid Suture. The
intersection of the Lambdoid and Sagittal Sutures
approximate a 120 degree angle on each of the parietals and the occipital
bone. Among the sutures the Lambdoid is by far more serrated than either the Sagittal or the Coronal. Inferiorly the Parietal articulates with the temporal bone by way of the Squamosal and Parieto-Mastoid Sutures. On the external surface near the center of the bone is the Parietal Eminence. Slightly posterior to the eminence there may be a Parietal Foramen.
Internally, the bones possess a number of Meningeal Groves as well
as perhaps some number of Arachnoid Foveae. The groves generally
branch from the inferior/anterior edge of the bone to superior/posterior, while the foveae are freqquenly found along the sagittal suture. At the area of intersection of the lambdoid and parieto-mastoid sutures there is a brief portion of the
Sigmoid (i.e., Transverse) Sulcus.
The parietals touch, or articulate with, the following bones:
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