Bone
Occipital bone
Back and base of the skull
High-yield
The foramen magnum transmits the medulla/spinal cord, vertebral arteries, and CN XI; the occipital condyles form the atlanto-occipital ('yes') joint.
Overview
The bone of the posterior and inferior cranium surrounding the foramen magnum, where the brainstem becomes the spinal cord.
Reference facts
- Bone type
Flat
- Key landmarks
Foramen magnum; Occipital condyles; External occipital protuberance (inion); Nuchal lines; Hypoglossal canal; Clivus (with sphenoid)
- Articulations
Parietal bones (lambdoid suture); Temporal and sphenoid bones; Atlas (atlanto-occipital joint)