The superior parietal lobule is the upper part of each parietal lobe, behind the postcentral gyrus and above the intraparietal sulcus, which separates it from the inferior parietal lobule below. [1]
The 3D brain needs JavaScript. The text below still says where the superior parietal lobule is and what it does.
Slice
Opens cut by a front (coronal) slice through the superior parietal lobule. Drag to turn, pinch or scroll to zoom, tap any part to name it; .
In front it is bounded by the upper part of the postcentral sulcus, though above the end of that sulcus it usually joins the postcentral gyrus. [1]
Behind, it is bounded by the lateral part of the parieto-occipital sulcus; around the end of that sulcus a curved gyrus (the arcus parieto-occipitalis) joins it to the occipital lobe. [1]
Below, the horizontal part of the intraparietal sulcus separates it from the inferior parietal lobule, which is made of the supramarginal and angular gyri. [1][2]
Paired: there is one in each hemisphere, the two lying either side of the longitudinal fissure; this model lights both. [1][3]
What it does
It is involved in spatial orientation, and receives a great deal of visual input as well as sensory input from the hand. [1]
It lies on the dorsal visual stream, the “where” or “how” pathway that runs from the visual cortex up into the parietal lobe and guides actions towards what is seen. [4]
Brodmann area 7, which makes up much of it, is thought to take part in visuo-motor coordination, such as reaching to grasp an object. [5]
Brodmann area 5, at its front, belongs to the somatosensory association cortex and is involved in somatosensory processing and movement. [6]
Connections
It belongs to the posterior parietal cortex, which receives touch and visual input and uses it to guide movements of the arm, hand and eyes. [7]
A branch of the superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF I) links the superior parietal cortex with the upper and inner parts of the frontal lobe. [8]
Other names
SPL. It contains Brodmann areas 5 and 7, and with the inferior parietal lobule it makes up the posterior parietal cortex. [1][7]
Size
On this model the left superior parietal lobule measures about 57 mm front to back, 67 mm top to bottom and 36 mm side to side (the box it fits in, not its volume); the right one is its mirror image. [3]
Centre of the left superior parietal lobule compared with the centre of the left angular gyrus: 15 mm higher, 25 mm closer to the midline; 30 mm apart in a straight line. [3]
Centre of the left superior parietal lobule compared with the centre of the left postcentral gyrus: 36 mm further back, 11 mm lower, 18 mm closer to the midline; 41 mm apart in a straight line. [3]
Facts describe anatomy and normal function only. The 3D model is the adult male BodyParts3D brain (credits and licence); real brains vary in size and shape, so its measurements describe one model, not anyone’s brain.