The occipital bone is one of the eight bones that make up the cranium and is located at the back of the head. It has a curve at the base of the skull and an opening for the brainstem to connect with the spinal cord. The bone joins with other bones to form the back of the skull and has bony protrusions that allow neck muscles to connect with the back of the skull.
The occipital bone is one of eight bones that make up the cranium, or cranium. It is located at the back of the head, just above the neck. This four-sided bone has a curve at the base of the skull. An opening in this bone allows the brainstem to connect with the spinal cord. The occipital bone joins the temporal and parietal bones to form the back of the skull.
The occipital usually consists of three distinct parts. The posterior section of the bone is often triangular in shape, with the apex pointing up. This section of the bone is convex, giving the back of the skull its roundness. On either side of the opening for the brainstem, known as the foramen magnum, two large bony protrusions, generally known to anatomists as condyles, allow neck muscles to connect with the back of the skull.
The condyles are convex and articulated, which makes them capable of movement. Muscle tissue connects the occipital condyles to the atlas, or first cervical vertebra at the top of the neck. The occipital condyles allow the head and neck to move together. The posterior and anterior condylar foramina are usually located in front of and behind the condyles. These small openings allow nerve fibers to enter the occipital bone and connect to nerves in the spinal cord.
This bone often has a large bump in the center of the back section. This bump is usually known as the external occipital bump. The bump is usually located in the center of a bony ridge that anatomists may refer to as the superior curved line. A lower curved line is typically found below the upper curved line. The external occipital crest vertically bisects the superior and inferior curved lines, starting at the external occipital protuberance and ending at the occipital foramen.
The occipital bone is slightly articulated with the surrounding bones. It connects with the parietal bones, which form the top of the skull. It also connects with the sphenoids, which form the temples. Finally, the occipital connects with the temporals, which form the sides of the skull.
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