Skull & Cranial Anatomy
Occipital bone
The occipital bone is the bone at the back and lower part of the skull.
In short: Occipital bone
- Occipital encephaloceles occur through this bone.
- It contains the foramen magnum.
- Occipital encephalocele is the most common type in the West.
- It is near structures relevant to Chiari malformation.
What it is
It is the back-and-base bone of the skull. It surrounds the foramen magnum, the large opening where the brainstem meets the spinal cord.
Understanding Occipital bone
It surrounds the opening where the brainstem meets the spinal cord and is the site of the most common encephalocele type in Western countries. Because of its location, occipital encephaloceles are evaluated for involvement of important back-of-brain structures and for associated conditions such as Chiari III malformation and hydrocephalus.
Why it matters
Understanding the occipital bone helps families see why the most common encephalocele type occurs at the back of the head and why imaging examines nearby structures and associated conditions.
Common questions
Where is the occipital bone?
At the back and lower skull.
What opening does it contain?
The foramen magnum.
Which encephaloceles involve it?
Occipital types, the most common in the West.
Bottom line
The occipital bone forms the back of the skull, where the common occipital encephalocele occurs.
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