Parietal foramina

{{Infobox bone

| Name = Parietal foramen

| Latin = foramen parietale

| Image = Parietal Foramen.PNG

| Caption = Surface rendered CT of the back of the skull. The parietal foramina are visible at left.

| Image2 =

| Caption2 =

|PartOf=Parietal bone|System=Skeletal}}

A parietal foramen is an opening in the skull for the parietal emissary vein, which drains into the superior sagittal sinus. Occasionally, a small branch of the occipital artery can also pass through it. Each foramen is located at the back part of the parietal bone, close to the upper or sagittal border. It is not always present, and its size varies considerably.{{Cite journal|last=Penteado|first=C. V.|last2=Santo|first2=Neto H.|date=1985-01-01|title=The number and location of the parietal foramen in human skulls|url=https://europepmc.org/article/med/3993964|journal=Anatomischer Anzeiger|volume=158|issue=1|pages=39–41|issn=0003-2786|pmid=3993964}} Parietal foramina tend to be symmetrical, with the same number on each side.