Educational Content: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment.
Definition of Parietal
Medically reviewed by Min Clinic Staff | Updated: January 2026
Parietal: Adjective from the Latin "parietalis" meaning "belonging to the wall" that the ancient anatomists used to designate the wall, as of a body cavity.
For examples, there are the:
- Parietal bone -- the main side bone of the skull.
- Parietal lobe -- the main side lobe of the brain (it is beneath the parietal bone).
- Parietal pericardium -- the outer membrane around the heart.
- Parietal peritoneum -- the membrane lining the abdominal cavity (as opposed to the visceral peritoneum that envelops the abdominal organs).