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behind it has an oval to round shape. The bone has four distinct regions. The squamous portion is the in-
ternally concave posterosuperior plate and forms the greater part of the bone. The thick quadrilateral basi-
occipital, or basilar part, contributes to the base of the cranium anterior to the foramen magnum. Lateral
to this and converging with the squama are the two condylar parts or exoccipitals. Together the four re-
gions of the bone form the borders to the large circular opening, the foramen magnum, which provides
passage for the spinal cord between the cranial vault and the spinal canal. The occipital bone articulates
with six bones.
The occipital bone forms the
greater part of the posterior and
inferior cranium. Viewed from
Cranial Bones – Occipital
1 Foramen magnum
2 Clivus
3 Pharyngeal tubercle
4 Squamous part
5 Mastoid border
6 Lambdoid border
7 Occipital condyle
8 Condylar canal
9 Hypoglossal canal
10 Condylar fossa
11 Jugular tubercle
12 Jugular notch
13 Jugular process
14 External occipital protuberance
15 Superior nuchal line
16 Inferior nuchal line
17 Internal occipital protuberance
18 Groove for transverse sinus
19 Groove for occipital sinus
20 Groove for superior sagittal sinus
21 Cerebral fossa
22 Cerebellar fossa
Occipital bone
Posterior view
Occipital bone
Anterior view
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5
6
7
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16
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5
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22
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