Left parietal bone

Looks like

A curved square plate, one on each side, forming the top and upper sides of the skull between the forehead bone and the back of the head.

What it does

Roofs over and protects the brain; the thin plates meet along zigzag joints (sutures) that let the skull grow in childhood.

Keeping it well

A hard blow here can crack it and tear the artery beneath. Drowsiness, vomiting or confusion after a head knock needs emergency care.

Related conditions

• Achondroplasia
• Acromegaly
• Brain abscess
• Fractures
• Fragility fracture
• Frailty & falls in older age
• Hyperparathyroidism
• Osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bone disease)
• Osteomalacia & rickets
• Osteomyelitis (bone infection)
• Osteoporosis
• Paget's disease of bone
• Sarcoma
• Traumatic brain injury (moderate to severe)
• Vitamin B1, C and other deficiencies
• Vitamin D deficiency