Description
The superior nuchal lines are the middle pair of curved ridges found along the external aspect of the squamous part of occipital bone. They extend laterally from the external occipital protuberance and travel towards the lateral angles of the occipital bone.
The superior nuchal lines separate the occipital and nuchal planes of the squamous part of occipital bone and provide:
—origin sites for the descending part of trapezius muscle and the occipital belly of occipitofrontalis muscle;
—insertion sites for the sternocleidomastoid and splenius capitis muscles.
The superior nuchal lines are more pronounced in males than females.
Related parts of the anatomy
