Word
parietal
Phoneticspari·etal
US/pɝˈaɪətəɫ/
UK/pˈæɹaɪətəl/
Definition
adj. relating to the side walls of a body part, like the skull or a flower. In medicine, it often describes the bones on the top and sides of the head.
adj. relating to the side walls of a body cavity or structure. In human anatomy, it specifically refers to the bones forming the upper and lateral parts of the skull.
Examples
“The doctor examined the parietal bones of the skull.”
“In botany, the parietal placenta is a type of seed attachment found in some flowering plants where the ovules are attached to the side of the ovary.”
“The surgeon carefully navigated the parietal lobe to avoid damaging the areas responsible for sensory processing and spatial awareness during the delicate procedure.”
Examples
simple
“The doctor examined the parietal bones of the skull.”
contextual
“In botany, the parietal placenta is a type of seed attachment found in some flowering plants where the ovules are attached to the side of the ovary.”
complex
“The surgeon carefully navigated the parietal lobe to avoid damaging the areas responsible for sensory processing and spatial awareness during the delicate procedure.”
Real-World Examples
“An electrical coil is placed over the head overlying the part of the brain – the parietal lobe – that processes balance.” Etymology
From Latin parietālis, from pariēs (“wall”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.