Occipital Bone AR Atlas
Table of Contents
The occipital bone is a cranial bone located at the back of the cranium. It articulates with 5 cranial bones: the Parietal bones, the Temporal bones, the Sphenoid (6)
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- Occipital bone: The occipital bone consists of four parts that surround the Foramen Magnum. These parts are known as the Squamous part, the Basilar part, and two Lateral Parts (3,6)
- Foramen magnum: Foramen Magnum is a hole that gives passage to the brainstem, nerves, and vessels. (3,7)
Basilar part of occipital bone
- Basilar part of occipital bone: Located at the foremost region of the occipital bone, the basilar section situates itself ahead of the foramen magnum. (3,7)
- The pharyngeal tubercle: Is a prominence that resides on the lower surface of the basilar portion of the occipital bone. It is situated before the foramen magnum. (3,8)
The lateral part of the occipital bone
- Lateral part of the occipital bone: The lateral parts of the occipital bone are positioned on either side of the foramen magnum. (3,7)
- Occipital condyle: located on the inferior aspect of the lateral part of the occipital bone on either side of the Foramen Magnum, they serve for the articulation with the first vertebra (3,8)
- Condylar canal: it is a tunnel, one of its entrances being in the condylar fossa. (3,7,9)
- Hypoglossal canal: is a tunnel that originates just above the foramen magnum and ends anterolaterally to the condyle. (3,7)
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- Condylar fossa: This refers to a hollow space found behind each occipital condyle. (3,8).
- Jugular tubercle: It is an oval prominence found on the upper surface of each lateral part. (3)
- Jugular notch of occipital bone: The occipital bone’s jugular notch is a hollowed-out area located in front of the jugular process. It contributes to the formation of the jugular foramen. (1,3,7)
- Jugular process: This is a protrusion located on the side of the occipital condyle. (3,7,8)
- Intrajugular process of occipital bone: This is a bony spike that splits the jugular notch into two sections. Occasionally, it helps form a septum within the jugular foramen. (3,9)
Squamous part of the occipital bone
- Squamous part of occipital bone: Occupying the most posterior position and being the largest portion of the bone, the squamous part of the occipital bone situates itself behind the foramen magnum. (1,7)
- Mastoid border of occipital bone: Running from the lateral angle to the inferior angle, the mastoid border of the occipital bone articulates with the temporal bone’s mastoid part. (1,8)
- Lambdoidal border of occipital bone: The lambdoidal border of the occipital bone starts at the superior angle and ends at the lateral angle of the occipital bone. It articulates with the parietal bone. (1,8)
- External occipital protuberance: Situated at the midpoint of the squamous part, the external occipital protuberance aligns itself along the midline. (1,6)
- External occipital crest: The external occipital crest or median nuchal line is a variable structure. When it is present, it is positioned between the external occipital protuberance and the posterior border of the foramen magnum. (7,8)
- Supreme nuchal line: The supreme nuchal line is the most superior line that extends from the external occipital protuberance. It is not as prominent as the superior and inferior nuchal lines. (1,7)
- Superior nuchal line: The superior nuchal line is a horizontal ridge extending laterally on either side at the same level as the external occipital protuberance. It is located between the supreme nuchal line and the inferior nuchal line. (7,8)
- Inferior nuchal line: The inferior nuchal line is a horizontal ridge that extends on either side from the centre of the external occipital crest, located inferiorly to the superior nuchal line (1,8)
- Occipital plane: The occipital plane is the area of the external surface of the squamous part that extends above the supreme nuchal line. (1)
- Cruciform eminence: The cruciform eminence, or cruciate eminence, is a prominence that divides the internal surface of the squamous part into four fossae (two superior and two inferior). (1,8)
- Internal occipital protuberance: The internal occipital protuberance is positioned in the middle of the cruciform eminence. (1,8)
- Internal occipital crest: It is prominent. It is the lower division of the cruciate eminence (1,8)
- Groove for transverse sinus: It is a groove that runs horizontally on either side of the horizontal divisions of the Cruciform eminence. (1,8)
- Groove for occipital sinus: It is a groove that runs along the internal occipital crest, extending from the internal occipital protuberance to the foramen magnum (1,8,10)
- Groove for marginal sinus: It is a groove that extends along the inferior margin of the foramen magnum. (8,11)
- Cerebral fossa: Two cerebral fossae are on either side of the sagittal sulcus, delimited by the cruciform eminence. (1,8)
- Cerebellar fossa: Two cerebellar fossae are on either side of the internal occipital crest. They are the two inferior fossae delimited by the cruciform eminence. (1,8)
- Vermian fossa: it is a small depression located in the lower part internal occipital crest (2,12)
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The structure and organization of anatomical terms used in this text follow the guidelines provided by FIPAT (2019) in their publication: FIPAT. (2019). Terminologia Anatomica (2nd ed.). FIPAT.library.dal.ca. Federative International Programme for Anatomical Terminology. Retrieved May 7, 2023, from https://fipat.library.dal.ca/TA2/