Parietal

Parietal is an anatomical term derived from Latin paries, meaning wall. It describes structures forming the walls of a body cavity or relating to the outer surface of a structure, as opposed to visceral components.

In the skull, the parietal bones are two curved bones that form most of the lateral and superior aspects of the cranium. They articulate with the frontal, occipital, temporal, and sphenoid bones and meet at the sagittal suture. They protect brain tissue and house vascular and neural tissue compartments.

In the brain, the parietal lobe is one of the four cerebral lobes, located near the top and back of the head. It processes somatosensory information, including touch and proprioception, and contributes to spatial orientation and language functions. The primary somatosensory cortex lies in the postcentral gyrus within this lobe.

In serous membranes, the term parietal denotes the lining against a cavity wall, such as the parietal peritoneum, parietal pleura, and parietal pericardium. These layers reflect the body cavity boundaries, with visceral counterparts covering organs, and they secrete lubricating fluid between layers.

Additionally, parietal cells are gastric mucosa cells that secrete hydrochloric acid and intrinsic factor, essential for digestion and vitamin B12 absorption.