What are the occipital condyles?
The occipital condyles are two large protuberances on the undersurface of the occipital bone, located besides the front half of the foramen magnum. It forms the connection between the skull and the vertebral coloumn.
Do humans have occipital condyles?
Objective: The human occipital condyle is the unique bony structure connecting the cranium and the vertebral column. The progress in neuroimaging techniques has increased interest for aggressive craniovertebral surgery. Such surgery requires the knowledge regarding anatomical aspects of the craniovertebral junction.
Can you feel occipital condyle?
The bony skull bump — known as an external occipital protuberance — is sometimes so large, you can feel it by pressing your fingers on the base of your skull.
What does the occipital condyle protect?
Specifically, it protects the brain’s visual processing center. It also acts as the connecting pathway from the brain to the spine. As the occipital bone connects with the first vertebra—the area called the atlas—it forms the atlantooccipital joint.
What is the function of occipital condyles?
The occipital bone is an anteriorly concave bone that forms the base of the cranium. The occipital condyles are paired kidney-shaped structures that form the base of the occipital bone and are the structural bases for the articulation of the skull with the cervical spine.
What movement does the shape of the occipital condyles allow?
Atlanto-occipital joint
| Type | Synovial ellipsoid joint; biaxial |
|---|---|
| Ligaments | Posterior atlantooccipital ligament, anterior atlantooccipital ligament |
| Innervation | C1 spinal nerve |
| Blood supply | Anastomosis between deep cervical, occipital and vertebral arteries |
| Movements | Principal movement; Flexion – extension Limited lateral flexion |
Why does my occipital condyle hurt?
Occipital neuralgia is most commonly caused by pinched nerves in the root of a person’s neck. Sometimes this is caused by muscles that are too tight in a person’s neck. In some cases, it can be caused by a head or neck injury. Chronic neck tension is another common cause.
Why do some people have bump on back of skull?
A bump on the back of the head has many possible causes, including injuries, cysts, fatty growths, inflamed hair follicles, and bone spurs. Bumps on this part of the body can be hard or soft, and they can vary in size. Injuries are a common cause of bumps and lumps on the back of the head.
Does the occipital bone move?
The occipital bone, atlas, and axis are responsible for most of the spine’s rotation, extension, and flexion—simply put, no other place in your spine moves more than the CVJ.
What causes occipital bun?
A study conducted by Lieberman, Pearson and Mowbray provides evidence that individuals with narrow heads (dolichocephalic) or narrow cranial bases and relatively large brains are more likely to have occipital buns as a means of resolving a spatial packing problem.
Will occipital neuralgia ever go away?
Does occipital neuralgia go away? Occipital neuralgia may go away with time if the cause of your occipital nerve inflammation is corrected.
