Squamous part of occipital bone

Squamous part of occipital bone

The Squamous part of occipital bone is the largest part of the occipital bone, one of the bones that make up the human skull. It is located at the back of the skull, below the parietal bones and above the foramen magnum.

Etymology

The term "squamous" comes from the Latin word "squama", meaning "scale", which refers to the flat, scale-like appearance of this part of the bone. The term "occipital" comes from the Latin "occiput", which means "back of the skull".

Anatomy

The squamous part of the occipital bone is marked by a prominent ridge called the external occipital protuberance. Above this feature, the bone is divided into two halves by a groove for the superior sagittal sinus. The halves are called the right and left occipital planes. Below the protuberance, the bone is divided into two halves by the median nuchal line. These halves are called the right and left nuchal planes.

Clinical significance

The squamous part of the occipital bone is important in clinical medicine because it forms part of the cranial cavity, which houses the brain. It is also the attachment site for several muscles, including the sternocleidomastoid, trapezius, and splenius capitis muscles. Damage to this area can lead to serious neurological problems.

Related terms

• Occipital bone
• Skull
• Foramen magnum
• External occipital protuberance
• Superior sagittal sinus
• Median nuchal line
• Sternocleidomastoid
• Trapezius
• Splenius capitis

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