Brain Anatomy Part II
Table of Contents
Section VI. Parietal Lobe
Section V. Parietal Lobe
The parietal lobe consists largely of the postcentral gyrus and the two lobules-the superior and inferior parietal lobules. The medial projection of the superior parietal lobule is referred to as the precuneus. The functional topology of the parietal lobe is roughly a mirror image of that of the frontal lobe. That is, there is a strip of somatosensory cortex in a homunculus along the bank of the central sulcus and a larger region of heteromodal association cortex elsewhere. Accordingly, lesions in the association cortex are associated with more complex clinical deficits such as neglect, difficulty reading, writing, math, counting, and so forth. This association cortex also has a role in language, although more difficult to localize than Broca's area of the frontal lobe.
Again, there are some key anatomic signs that help define surface anatomy and facilitate identification of the central sulcus.
3D Surface Views
Major borders of the parietal lobe, lateral view. The major borders include the central sulcus, Sylvian fissure, and 'imaginary' lines. Localization of the parieto-occipito-temporal region on cross-sectional imaging can imprecise.
Key structures of the parietal lobe, superior view. The parietal lobe largely consists of the postcentral gyrus and two large regions: the superior and inferior parietal lobules.
Key signs of parietal lobe surface anatomy, superior view. The postcentral sulcus termination is often bifid. The intraparietal sulcus can extend anteriorly as far as the postcentral sulcus.
Key structures of the parietal lobe, lateral view
Key signs of parietal lobe surface anatomy, lateral view
Major boundaries of the parietal lobe, posterior view. The posterior extent is defined by the parieto-occipital fissure and imaginary line from this fissure to the pre-occipital notch (which is hard to specifically identify).
Key anatomy and signs of the parietal lobe by level:
