Original Editor- Hannah Hassell Top Contributors - Mande Jooste, Hannah Hassell, Kim Jackson, Lucinda hampton and Tony Lowe

Description

The Occipital bone is a trapezoidal-shaped bone forming the base of the skull. It is situated at the the lower and back part of the cranium. The large oval opening in the bone is called the foramen magnum through which the spinal cord exits the cranial vault.

Articulations

The occipital bone articulate with six bones:

Two temporal bones
Two parietal bones
Sphenoid bone
Atlas

Muscle Attachments

Superior curved line: Occipito frontalis; Trapezius; Sternocleidomastoid
Space between the curved lines: Complexus; Splenius capitis; Obliquus superior
Inferior curved line and space between it and the foramen magnum: Rectus posticus major and minor
Transverse process: Rectus lateralis
Basilar process: Rectus antics major and minor; Superior constrictor of pharynx^[1]

Clinical Relevance

Basilar skull fracture

See Related Research

Occipital neuralgia^[2]

References

↑ Gray H, Anatomy, descriptive and surgical, 8th edition, Philadelphia, Collins, June, 1878
↑ Dougherty, C. Curr Pain Headache Rep (2014) 18: 411. https://doi-org.uplib.idm.oclc.org/10.1007/s11916-014-0411-x

[1] Gray H, Anatomy, descriptive and surgical, 8th edition, Philadelphia, Collins, June, 1878

[2] Dougherty, C. Curr Pain Headache Rep (2014) 18: 411. https://doi-org.uplib.idm.oclc.org/10.1007/s11916-014-0411-x

[1]

[2]

Occipital Bone

Contents