Description
The external occipital protuberance is the palpable prominence found along the external aspect of the squamous part of occipital bone. It is located at the point along the midline where the occipital and nuchal planes meet. It consists of the inion, which is a craniometric point located at the tip of the external occipital protuberance. The external occipital crest extends inferiorly from the external occipital protuberance, and the supreme and superior nuchal lines extend laterally from it.
The external occipital protuberance provides an origin site for the descending part of trapezius muscle and an attachment site for the nuchal ligament. It is more pronounced in males than females.
Related parts of the anatomy
