Evolution and significance of giant parietal foramina

Abstract

✓ Parietal foramina normally occur in most skulls but on rare occasion evolve into “giant” defects. A family, all of whose siblings were so affected, is analyzed. The trait appears to be inherited as a Mendelian dominant, and may be more noticeable in infancy than in adult life. The problems related to giant parietal foramina are discussed.