Definition of Parietal bone

Parietal bone: The main side bone of the skull.

Although the parietal bone is curved, it is considered a flat bone, as opposed to a tubular bone. It is shaped like an irregular quadrangle. It articulates (joins) with the other parietal bone in the midline, with the frontal bone in front of it, with the occipital bone behind it, and with the sphenoid and temporal bones lower down on the side of the skull.

The word "parietal" comes from the Latin "parietalis" meaning "belonging to the wall."

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