How Do You Spell PARIETAL ANGLE?

1. The parietal angle is a term used in anatomy and anthropology to describe a specific angle formed by the intersection of two bony structures known as the parietal bones. The parietal bones, comprising the upper sides and back of the skull, converge at the top of the head where they are united by a fibrous joint called the sagittal suture. This junction serves as the reference point for measuring the parietal angle.

   The parietal angle is determined by drawing two lines: one along the sagittal suture and another connecting the junctions of the sagittal suture with the frontal bone and occipital bone. The angle is then measured at the vertex where these lines intersect. This angle is often used in the field of anthropology to assess the cranial shape and characteristics of different populations.

   The parietal angle is considered an important anatomical feature because it can reveal valuable information about the overall shape and dimensions of the skull. Anthropologists and anatomists use this angle as a metric to compare and classify different cranial forms, assisting in the study of racial, ethnic, and ancestral distinctions. Additionally, changes in the parietal angle can occur due to genetic factors, environmental adaptation, or developmental abnormalities, making it a useful tool in identifying and analyzing skull variations.

2. Quatrefages's a., one formed by the meeting of the prolongation of two lines tangential to the most prominent part of the zygomatic arch and to the parietofrontal suture on each side; when the lines remain parallel the angle is zero, when they diverge it is negative.

   A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

Common Misspellings for PARIETAL ANGLE

The word "parietal" comes from the Latin word "parietalis", which means "of a wall or partition". It is derived from the Latin word "paries", meaning "wall". In anatomy, "parietal" is used to describe structures located near the wall of a body cavity or organ.

The word "angle" originates from the Latin word "angulus", which means "corner" or "bend". It is used to refer to the meeting point of two lines or surfaces that diverge from each other.

Combining these two terms, the "parietal angle" is the corner or point at which two walls or surfaces meet in the context of anatomy. It is a term commonly used in neuroanatomy to describe the junction between the parietal and occipital lobes of the brain.