Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Occipital Bone: Review of Its Embryology and Molecular Development

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
The Chiari Malformations

  • 852 Accesses

Abstract

The human occipital bone is ontogenetically and functionally unique when compared to other bones of the cranium. It is one of the first bones of the skull to develop and consists anatomically of four parts surrounding the foramen magnum: the basilar, squamous, and two condylar parts. This chapter explores the embryology and anatomy of the occipital bone and how it relates to Chiari I malformation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 249.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Mowbray K. Surface bone histology of the occipital bone in humans and chimpanzees. Anat Rec. 2005;283B:14–22.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Jinkins JR. The Skull. Atlas of neuroradiologic embryology, anatomy, and variants. Philadelphia: Lipincott Williams and Wilkins; 2000. p. 63.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Srivastava HC. Development of ossification centers in the squamous portion of the occipital bone in man. J Anat. 1997;124:643–9.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Pal GP, Tamankar BP, Routal RV, Bhagwat SS. The ossification of the membranous part of the squamous portion of the occipital bone in man. J Anat. 1984;138:259–66.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  5. Standring S. Gray’s anatomy. 41st ed. Philadelphia: Elsevier; 2015.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Shapiro R, Robinson F. Embryogenesis of the human occipital bone. Am J Roentgenol. 1976;126:1063–8.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Nayak SR, Krishnamurthy A, Kumar AJ, Probhu L, Jiji P, Pai M, Kumar A, Avadhani R. The mendosal suture of the occipital bone: occurrence in Indian population, embryology and clinical significance. Surg Radiol Anat. 2007;29:329–32.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Tubbs RS, Salter EG, Oakes WJ. Does the mendosal suture exist in the adult? Clin Anat. 2007;20:124–5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Gallagher E, Evans K, Hing A, Cunningham M. Bathrocephaly: a head shape associated with a persistent mendosal suture. Cleft Palate Craniofac J. 2013;50:104–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Matsumura G, England MA, Uchiumi T, Kodama G. The fusion of ossification centers in the cartilaginous and membranous parts of the occipital squama in human fetuses. J Anat. 1994;185:295–300.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  11. Lee YF, Nimura K, Lo WN, Saga K, Kaneda Y. Histone H3 lysine 36 methyltransferase Whsc1 promotes the association of Runx2 and p300 in the activation of bone-related genes. PLoS One. 2014;9(9):e106661.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Tortori-Donati P, Rossi A. Embryology of the head and neck. Pediatric neuroradiology. Head, neck and spine. New York: Springer; 2005. p. 1257–64; 1271–1272.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Muhleman M, Charran O, Matusz P, Shoja MM, Tubbs S, Loukas M. The Proatlas: a comprehensive review with clinical implications. Childs Nerv Syst. 2012;28:349–56.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Pang D, Thompson DNP. Embryology and bony malformation of the craniovertebral junction. Child Nerv Syst. 2011;27:523–64.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Hosokawa R, Urata M, Han J, Zehnaly A, Bringas P, Nonaka K, Chai Y. TGF-β mediated Msx2 expression controls occipital somites derived caudal region of skull development. Dev Biol. 2007;310:140–53.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Shoja MM, Tubbs RS, Oakes WJ. Embryology of the craniocervical junction and posterior cranial fossa. The Chiari Malformations. New York: Springer; 2013. p. 13–54.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Graham JM. Lambdoidal craniosynostosis. Smith’s recognizable patterns of human deformation. 3rd ed. Philadelphia: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. p. 204–9.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  18. Tubbs RS, Cesmebasi A, Loukas M, Hogan E, Kralovic S, Cohen Gadol AA. The Chiari malformations: a review with emphasis on anatomical traits. Clin Anat. 2015;28:184–94.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Tubbs RS, Wellons JC, Smyth MD, Bartolucci AA, Blount JP, Oakes WJ, Grabb PA. Children with growth hormone deficiency and Chiari I malformation: a morphometric analysis of the posterior cranial fossa. Pediatr Neurosurg. 2003;38:324–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Huang MH, Gruss JS, Clarren SK, Mouradian WE, Cunningham ML, Roberts TS, Loeser JD, Cornell CJ. The differential diagnosis of posterior plagiocephaly: true lambdoid synostosis versus positional molding. Plast Recontr Surg. 1996;98:765–74.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomical Sciences, St. George’s University School of Medicine, St. George’s, Grenada, Grenada

    Stephen J. Bordes

  2. Department of Neurosurgery, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA

    R. Shane Tubbs

  3. Department of Neurosurgery and Ochsner Neuroscience Institute, Ochsner Health System, New Orleans, LA, USA

    R. Shane Tubbs

Authors
  1. Stephen J. Bordes
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. R. Shane Tubbs
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA

    R. Shane Tubbs

  2. Department of Neurosurgery, Aydın Adnan Menderes University School of Medicine, Efeler, Aydın, Turkey

    Mehmet Turgut

  3. Departments of Neurosurgery and Pediatrics, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL, USA

    W. Jerry Oakes

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2020 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Bordes, S.J., Tubbs, R.S. (2020). The Occipital Bone: Review of Its Embryology and Molecular Development. In: Tubbs, R., Turgut, M., Oakes, W. (eds) The Chiari Malformations. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-44862-2_6

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-44862-2_6

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-44861-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-44862-2

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation