Parietal foramina

What it means

The presence of symmetrical and circular openings (foramina) in the parietal bone ranging in size from a few millimeters to several centimeters wide.

Enlarged parietal foramina is an inherited condition of impaired skull development. It is characterized by enlarged openings (foramina) in the two bones (parietal bones) that form the top and sides of the skull. This condition is due to problems with bone formation (ossification) within the parietal bones. The openings are symmetrical and circular in shape, with variable size ranging from a few millimeters to several centimeters wide. Parietal foramina are a normal feature of fetal development, but they usually close by the fifth month of pregnancy.

Rare diseases that can present with this4

The range is how often this sign appears among people diagnosed with each disease — it is not a probability of having any of them. Many of these signs also occur in common, non-rare conditions. A sign on this page is a conversation to have with a clinician, not a conclusion.

Part of the broader category

Also called: Holes in parietal bones · Openings in parietal bones · Persistent foramina of the parietal bones · Symmetrical, oval defects in the parietal bone · Symmetrical, oval parietal bone defects