The parietal bone covers the centre of the skull, sometimes referred to as the os parietale, a paired, flat cranial bone. Parietal bones protect the right and left parietal lobes of the brain.
The parietal bone, a neurocranium component, helps shape the head and protects the brain. Both bones belong to the skull base (basicranium) and calvaria (skull cap).
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Location of Parietal Bone
Anatomically, the parietal bones are located on the sides and top of the skull. The top of the head is mainly composed of these two bones. Four additional bones and the parietal bone feature borders, known as sutures. It connects to the frontal bone on the front edge, the occipital bone at the back, and the temporal and sphenoid bones at the sides.
Functions of Parietal Bone
The primary function of the parietal bone is structure. This set of bones forms a robust, rounded covering over the brain. The soft tissue of the brain is protected by the skull, which also inhibits expansion in the event of infection, excessive cerebrospinal fluid production, or haemorrhage. These circumstances may cause the pressure inside the cranium to rise.
These situations might lead to an increase in pressure inside the skull. The meningeal blood supply, which provides oxygen and other nutrients to the three membranes surrounding the brain, is also housed on the internal surface of the skull. Instances that are not surgically addressed could quickly become fatal.
The quadrilateral parietal bone is gently curved. It has four borders, two surfaces and four angles. The borders join the adjacent skull bones to generate various cranial sutures. The surfaces have various bony protrusions and dents corresponding to the anatomical elements that lay against the bone, including the superficial blood veins of the brain.
A lump on the parietal bone is not a common sign. It could be a benign skull osteoma, a disease that slowly progresses and causes the two compact bony discs to enlarge but not the central cancellous bone.
There may be significant consequences from a parietal bone fracture. The bones cover the brain’s parietal lobes but also expand on the occipital, frontal, and temporal lobes.
Related Links:
- Functions Of Human Skeletal System
- Skull bones – Facial and Cranial Bones
- Short Notes Disorders of Bones
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