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Occipital bone

The base of the occipital bone articulates with the first cervical vertebra – atlas or C1 – thanks to the condylar part of occiput that anatomically ressambles the processus articularis inferior of cervical vertebra. The reason behind this is the common somatic origin of the occipital bone and vertebral column. In the literature, the occipital bone sometimes is reported as Cervical 0, or C0, stressing this common somatic origin and integral part in anatomy, biomechanics, and clinical functions of the upper cervical spine*.

  • * White AA, Panjabi MM. Clinical biomechanics of the spine. ed 2. Philadelphia: Lippincott; 1990. p. 722.

    • Icon of crossfade image Download JPG image
    Occipital bone ex situ Occipital bone in situ
    Os occipitale ex situ & in situ.
    Icon of crossfade image Top view of occipital bone with the terminology markup
    Top view of occipital bone
    Top view of the occipital bone, demonstrating the main parts of this bone arranged around the foramen magnum.
    The list of terms: Squama occipitalis – Squamous part of occipital bone
    Pars lateralis ossis occipitalis – Lateral part of occipital bone
    Pars basilaris ossis occipitalis – Basilar part of occipital bone
    Foramen magnum
    Icon of crossfade image Anterior view of occipital bone with the terminology markup
    Anterior aspect of occipital bone
    Anterior aspect of occipital bone.
    Note the characteristic feature of the squama occipitalis's internal surface – the cruciform eminence – situated between large bone impressions caused by the cerebellum (fossa cerebellaris) and cerebral hemispheres (fossa cerebralis).
    The list of terms: Fossa cerebralis – Cerebral fossa
    Fossa cerebellaris – Cerebellar fossa
    Eminentia cruciformis – Cruciform eminence
    Processus jugularis – Jugular Process
    Tuberculum jugulare – Jugular notch
    Condylus occipitalis – Occipital condyle
    Tuberculum pharyngeum – Pharyngeal tubercle
    Sulcus sinus sigmoidei – Groove for the sigmoid sinus
    Canalis condylaris – Condylar canal
    Canalis hypoglossus (canalis n. hypoglossi) – Hypoglossal canal
    Icon of crossfade image Iso view of occipital bone with the terminology markup
    Iso view of occipital bone
    The iso view of the occipital bone, demonstrating numerous sulci made by venous sinuses passing along this bone's internal surface.
    The list of terms: Margo lambdoideus – Lambdoid margin
    Sulcus sinus sagittalis superioris – Groove for superior sagittal sinus
    Crista occipitalis interna – Internal occipital crest
    Sulcus sinus transversi – Groove for transverse sinus
    Protuberantia occipitalis interna – Internal occipital protuberance
    Margo mastoideus – Mastoid margin
    Sulcus sinus sigmoidei – Groove for the sigmoid sinus
    Incisura jugularis – Jugular notch
    Sulcus sinus petrosi inferioris – Groove for inferior petrosal sinus of occipital bone
    Icon of crossfade image The dorsal view of occipital bone with the terminology markup
    Dorsal view of occipital bone
    Dorsal aspect of occipital bone. The prominent feature of the squama's external surface is the protuberance, an easily palpable point known in the craniometry as inion.
    The list of terms: Planum occipitale – Occipital plane
    Protuberantia occipitalis externa – External occipital protuberance
    Linea nuchalis suprema – Highest nuchal line
    Linea nuchalis superior – Superior nuchal line
    Linea nuchalis inferior – Inferior nuchal line
    Crista occipitalis externa – External occipital crest
    Fossa condylaris – Condylar fossa
    Clivus
    Condylus occipitalis – Occipital condyle
    Tuberculum pharyngeum – Pharyngeal tubercle
    Canalis condylaris – Condylar canal
    Canalis hypoglossus (canalis n. hypoglossi) – Hypoglossal canal
    Occipital bone in situ & ex situ. 360° rotation.
    First published: Apr/2019
    Last update: 09/Nov/2020